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Background:When an uninsured, undocumented immigrant presents with an emergency medical condition, they may qualify for Emergency Medicaid. Notably, the care and services related to HSCT are not covered, except in California and Washington state. Therefore, many patients with MRD-positive or relapsed ALL who may otherwise be good candidates for HSCT are unable to receive it. This may lead to months of resource-intensive treatment without the chance of cure. Here we present 3 such patients and their course of treatments and outcomes.

Introduction. Olutasidenib is an FDA-approved, targeted therapy for IDH1-mutated (mIDH1) AML. Among 147 patients with relapsed/refractory mIDH1 AML, 51 (35%) achieved a complete response (CR) or CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) after treatment with olutasidenib, with a duration of response of 25.9 months. We conducted sub-analyses to better understand which factors might be predictive of response to therapy.

Introduction:

Autoimmune leukopenia is a rare disorder but may cause severe life-threatening infections. Here we report a case involving a 58-year-old male with a history of severe autoimmune leukopenia that was highly refractory to therapies targeting T and B linage cells but had a durable response to daratumumab. This case management suggested that targeting plasma cells may be considered for refractory autoimmune leukopenia.

Introduction

Introduction

Background

Laromustine is a sulfonylhdrazine alkylator with significant antileukemia activity. An international, randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to compare complete remission (CR) rates and overall survival (OS) in patients with first relapse acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with laromustine and high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) versus HDAC/placebo. Patients received 1.5 g/m2 per day cytarabine continuous infusion for 3 days and laromustine 600 mg/m2 (n = 177) or placebo (n = 86) on day 2. Patients in CR received consolidation with laromustine/HDAC or HDAC/placebo as per initial randomization. After interim analysis at 50% enrollment, the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) expressed concern that any advantage in CR would be compromised by the observed on-study mortality, and enrollment was held. The CR rate was significantly higher for the laromustine/HDAC group (35% vs 19%, P = .005). However, the 30-day mortality rate and median progression-free survival were significantly worse in this group compared with HDAC/placebo (11% vs 2%; P = .016; 54 days vs 34; P = .002). OS and median response durations were similar in both groups. Laromustine/HDAC induced significantly more CR than HDAC/placebo, but OS was not improved due to mortality associated with myelosuppression and its sequelae. The DSMB subsequently approved a revised protocol with laromustine dose reduction and recombinant growth factor support. The study was registered as NCT00112554 at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Early assessment of cancer response to the treatment is of great importance in clinical oncology. Most antitumor drugs, among them DNA topoisomerase (topo) inhibitors, target nuclear DNA. The aim of the present study was to explore feasibility of the assessment of DNA damage response (DDR) as potential biomarker, eventually related to the clinical response, during treatment of human leukemias. We have measured DDR as reported by activation of ATM through its phosphorylation on Ser 1981 (ATM-S1981P) concurrent with histone H2AX phosphorylation on Ser139 (γH2AX) in leukemic blast cells from the blood of twenty patients, 16 children/adolescents and 4 adults, diagnosed with acute leukemias and treated with topo2 inhibitors doxorubicin, daunomycin, mitoxantrone or idarubicin. Phosphorylation of H2AX and ATM was detected using phospho-specific Abs and measured in individual cells by flow cytometry. The increase in the level of ATM-S1981P and γH2AX, varying in extent  between the patients, was observed in blasts from the blood collected one hour after completion of the drug infusion with respect to the pre-treatment level. A modest degree of correlation was observed between the induction of ATM activation and H2AX phosphorylation in blasts of individual patients. The number of the studied patients (20) and the number of the clinically non-responding ones (2) was too low to draw a conclusion whether the assessment of DDR can be clinically prognostic. The present findings, however, demonstrate the feasibility of assessment of DDR during the treatment of leukemias with drugs targeting DNA.

Etoposide (VP-16) belongs to the family of DNA topoisomerase II (topo2) inhibitors, drugs widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Their presumed mode of action is stabilization of “cleavable complexes” between topo2 and DNA; collisions of DNA replication forks with these complexes convert them into DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), potentially lethal lesions that may trigger apoptosis. Immunocytochemical detection of activation of ATM (ATM-S1981P) and histone H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX) provides a sensitive probe of the induction of DSBs in individual cells. Using multiparameter cytometry we measured the expression of ATM-S1981P and γH2AX as well as initiation of apoptosis (caspase-3 activation) in relation to the cell cycle phase in etoposide-treated human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells. The induction of ATM-S1981P and γH2AX was seen in all phases of the cell cycle. The G1-phase cells, however, preferentially underwent apoptosis. The extent of etoposide-induced H2AX phosphorylation was partially reduced by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS).The maximal reduction of H2AX phosphorylation by NAC, seen in G1-phase cells, was nearly 50%. NAC also protected a fraction of G1 cells from etoposide-induced apoptosis, but had no such effect on S or G2M cells. However, no significant rise in the intracellular level of ROS upon treatment with etoposide was detected. The effects of etoposide were compared with the previously investigated effects of another topo2 inhibitor, mitoxantrone. The latter was seen to induce a maximal level of ATM-S1981P and γH2AX (partially abrogated by NAC) in G1-phase cells, but unlike etoposide, triggered apoptosis exclusively of S-phase cells. The data suggest that in addition to the generally accepted mechanism involving collisions of replication forks with the “cleavable complexes”, other mechanisms which appear to be different for etoposide vs. mitoxantrone, may contribute to formation of DSBs and to triggering of apoptosis.

Topoisomerase II inhibitors represent a broad class of antineoplastic agents with a wide spectrum of activity against malignancies. Topoi-somerase II inhibitors include the anthracyclines, mitoxantrone and epipodophyllotoxins. Short-term toxicity includes myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity. Long-term survivors are at risk of cardiac toxicity and secondary leukaemia. This article discusses these toxicities in detail, including administration of these agents to patients with hepatic and/or renal insuffi-ciency, and the need for dose adjustments in selected patient populations.

Resistance to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) remains a clinical problem in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and provides a model for the development of novel therapies. Molecular alterations in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the PML/RARα fusion gene that characterizes APL constitute one mechanism of acquired resistance to ATRA. We identified missense mutations in PML/RARα from an additional ATRA-resistant patient at relapse and in a novel ATRA-resistant cell line, NB4-MRA1. These cause altered binding to ligand and transcriptional coregulators, leading to a dominant-negative block of transcription. These mutations are in regions of the LBD that appear to be mutational hot spots occurring repeatedly in ATRA-resistant APL patient cells. We evaluated whether histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition could overcome the effects of these mutations on ATRA-induced gene expression. Cotreatment with ATRA and TSA restoredRARβ gene expression in NB4-MRA1 cells, whose PML/RARα mutation is in helix 12 of the LBD, but not in an APL cell line harboring the patient-derived PML/RARα mutation, which was between helix 5 and 6. Furthermore, ATRA combined with TSA increases histone 4 acetylation on the RARβ promoter only in NB4-MRA1 cells. Consistent with these results, the combined treatment induces differentiation of NB4-MRA1 only. Thus, the ability of an HDAC inhibitor to restore ATRA sensitivity in resistant cells may depend on their specific molecular defects. The variety of PML/RARαmutations arising in ATRA-resistant patients begins to explain how APL patients in relapse may differ in response to transcription therapy with HDAC inhibitors.

Topotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, acts by stabilizing the topoisomerase DNA cleavage complex. Etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, mediates antitumor activity by stabilizing cleavage complex formed between topoisomerase II and DNA. These two agents have therapeutic activity in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The authors report Phase I data of topotecan and etoposide combination for patients with recurrent or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and correlation of topoisomerase–DNA complex formation to clinical response. Twenty-two patients with recurrent or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma were treated at four dose levels of topotecan (1 mg/m²/day to 2.5 mg/m²/day). Topotecan was given at a 30-minute infusion daily with etoposide 150 mg/m²/day, both for 5 days. Topoisomerase–DNA covalent complex formation was measured using in vivo link assay, whereas topoisomerase I, IIα, and IIβ in RNA expression levels were determined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in blood samples. The relation of these levels to clinical response was studied. The maximum tolerated dose of topotecan was 2.0 mg/m²/day for 5 days. Oropharyngeal mucositis was dose-limiting. Of 21 examinable patients, 3 patients achieved complete remission, and 5 patients achieved partial remission. Of six untreated patients who experienced a recurrence, three had complete remission, and the other three had partial remission. Drug-induced topoisomerase–DNA complex formation was observed throughout the treatment in blood samples of all the patients who responded. However, only 4 of 13 patients, who did not respond, formed covalent complex at all time points. This was statistically significant (P = 0.024). In all patients, expression levels of topoisomerase I and IIβ mRNA remained similar to pretreatment levels, whereas topoisomerase IIα mRNA levels decreased dramatically by the third day. The recommended Phase II dose of topotecan with etoposide of 150 mg/m²/day for 5 days was 2.0 mg/m²/day for 5 days. Topoisomerase–DNA complex formation correlated with response to treatment. Cancer 2001;91:463–71. © 2001 American Cancer Society.

Hematologic malignancies have generally been considered to be sporadic diseases. More recently several germ line mutations that lead to hereditary hematologic malignancies have been discovered, even in adults. We sought to evaluate the frequency of a family history of hematologic or other malignancy in pts admitted to the hospital for treatment of a hematologic malignancy. We also studied exposure history including use of cigarettes. All pts signed informed consent. Pts were entered prospectively and interviewed with a standard questionnaire. 702 pts (median age 61.9: range 16.3-91.3 years) were enrolled. Diagnoses were AML: 396 pts, aplastic anemia: 5 pts, ALL: 96 pts, CLL: 24 pts, CML 42 pts, CMML 10 pts, MDS 30 pts, MM 19 pts, MPD 10 pts, and NHL 70 pts. 473 pts (67.4%) had a family member with cancer. There was a total of 1037 cancers in these family members. The median number of family members with cancer was 1 (range 0-10). The frequency of each type of family member cancer is displayed in the table. 19.7% of pts had a family member with leukemia or other hematologic malignancy (leukemia: 12.0%, other hematologic: 7.7%). Compared to pts with a hematologic malignancy other than AML, pts with AML were more likely to have a family member with any type of cancer (72.4% vs 60.7%, p=0.001). Pts with AML were also more likely to have a family member with a history of any type of hematologic malignancy (22.4% vs 16.0%, p=0.03), but not specifically a history of leukemia (13.4% vs 10.1%, p=0.11). Compared to pts with hematologic malignancies other than AML, pts with AML were also more likely to have a family member with prostate cancer (16.2% vs 9.5%, p=0.01), or breast cancer (29.5% vs 21.9%, p=0.02). 51.4% of pts had a history of smoking (either current or prior). Pts with AML were more likely to be current or former smokers compared to pts with other hematologic malignancies (55.8% vs 45.8%, p=0.008). These data support the role of genetics and exposure in adults with AML.

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive myeloid malignancy that predominantly affects older patients (pts; median age at diagnosis 68 years). Despite treatment advances, remission and survival rates remain low. Previously, we reported that only 35% of pts newly diagnosed with AML in the Connect ® Myeloid Disease Registry (NCT01688011) who achieved remission subsequently proceeded to transplant; pts who received a transplant had longer overall survival (OS) than pts who did not (Roboz GJ, et al. Blood2020;136[Suppl 1];Abstract 2523). Here, we aim to further investigate post-remission treatment patterns and outcomes in a real-world cohort of pts with AML.

The effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on extramedullary acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has not been fully delineated. We report an unusual case of APL in which a patient relapsed in the skin and central nervous system. Cytodifferentiation of leukemic cells from these extramedullary sites was demonstrated following treatment with ATRA.

The apoptosis-associated DNA strand breaks were detected in situ, in individual leukemic cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow of over 110 patients with different types of leukemia (ALL, AML, CML in blastic crisis, APL), prior to and during routine chemotherapy. The DNA strand breaks were labeled with digoxigenin- or biotin-conjugated dUTP in the reaction catalyzed by exogenous terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, and the cells, counterstained for DNA, were analyzed by bivariate flow cytometry. The proportion of cells with DNA strand breaks prior to therapy, most likely reflecting spontaneous apoptosis, varied from 0.1 to 16%, but in the large majority of cases was below 3%. Administration of drugs of different classes, which included DNA topoisomerase I (Topotecan) and II (mitoxantrone, VP-16) inhibitors, antimetabolite (ara-C) or microtubule poison (Taxol), all triggered the appearance of cells with extensive DNA breakage, typical of apoptosis, to up to 80%. The peak of the response, measured as maximal percent of cells with DNA strand breaks, which varied between individual patients by as much as factor 10, was generally seen between 8 to 24 h after the initial administration of DNA topoisomerase inhibitors, and somewhat later (48-72 h) during the response to Taxol or ara-C. Thus, the data show that the response to treatment with a variety of drugs, in terms of induction of apoptosis, can be conveniently measured by the present method. The prognostic value of the apoptotic index, before, as well as during treatment, is being estimated for each type of leukemia, in the ongoing prospective studies.

The standard of therapy for the high risk adult neutropenic host being treated with broad spectrum antibiotics for fever has been to continue intravenous antibiotics until neutropenia resolves. We performed a small, limited pilot study to determine if it is safe to switch these patients to oral monotherapy with ciprofloxacin. Ten patients with hematologic malignancies who had ≤ 108 granulocytes/mm3 after cytoreductive therapy and were afebrile for at least five days had intravenous antibiotics discontinued and were placed on oral ciprofloxacin. Eight patients were able to be discharged hospital and seven were treated without the need for reinstitution of intravenous therapy. Of the three failures, one developed fever with a new bloodstream infection and two developed fever with relapse of leukemia. Patients remained on ciprofloxacin an average of 14.5 days (range 4 to 35 days). Aggregate cost savings for the 10 patients from this approach were estimated to be $11,400 for antibiotics and $88,800 for hospitalization. If corroborated in larger, randomized studies, the use of "stepdown monotherapy" may be a cost effective approach to the management of the stable neutropenic patient.

We prospectively evaluated all oncology inpatients for 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. All patients recovered completely. Evaluating all oncology patients with fever for influenza involved overtreatment of influenza-negative patients and involved a significant infection control burden. However, early antiviral intervention could have contributed to a favorable outcome.

Watts: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding. Baer:Forma: Research Funding; Kite: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Al Therapeutics: Research Funding. Yang:Agios: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Research Funding. Prebet:pfizer: Honoraria; novartis: Honoraria; pfizer: Honoraria; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; novartis: Honoraria. Lee:Helsinn: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy; Roche Molecular Systems: Consultancy; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy; Ai Therapeutics: Research Funding. Schiller:Biomed Valley Discoveries: Research Funding; Bristol Myer Squibb: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Constellation Pharmaceutical: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Eli Lilly and Company: Research Funding; FujiFilm: Research Funding; Genzyme: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; J&J: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Pfizer Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership, Research Funding; Sangamo Therapeutics: Research Funding; Amgen: Other, Research Funding. Dinner:Agios: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy. Pigneux:Roche: Honoraria; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Daichi: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Montesinos:Abbvie: 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, Other: Research support, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Wang:Stemline: Other: Advisory role, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi: Other: Advisory role; Amgen: Other: Advisory role; Abbvie: Other: Advisory role; Kite: Other: Advisory role; Jazz: Other: Advisory role; Astellas: Other: Advisory role, Speakers Bureau; celyad: Other: Advisory role; Pfizer: Other: Advisory role, Speakers Bureau; Agios: Other: Advisory role. Seiter:Novartis, Incyte, Celgene, Astellas, Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; Novartis, Astellas,: Consultancy; Novartis, Forma, Sun Pharma, Celgene, Jazz, Roche: Research Funding. Wei:Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Macrogenics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties: AHW is a former employee of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and receives a fraction of its royalty stream related to venetoclax, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. De Botton:Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pierre Fabre: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; FORMA: Consultancy, Research Funding; Syros: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Daiichi: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy. Jonas:AbbVie, Accelerated Medical Diagnostics, AROG, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, Esanex, Forma, Genentech/Roche, GlycoMimetics, Incyte, LP Therapeutics, Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; AbbVie, Amgen, GlycoMimetics: Other: Travel expenses; AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, GlycoMimetics, Jazz, Pharmacyclics, Tolero: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ferrell:Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy; Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding. Dao:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Kelly:FORMA Therapeutics: Employment. Sweeney:FORMA Therapeutics: Employment. Forsyth:FORMA Therapeutics: Employment. Guichard:FORMA Therapeutics: Employment. Brevard:FORMA Therapeutics: Employment. Henrick:FORMA Therapeutics: Employment. Mohamed:FORMA Therapeutics: Employment. Cortes:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Immunogen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merus: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BiolineRx: Consultancy; Forma Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Biopath Holdings: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sun Pharma: Research Funding.

Lee: LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Clinipace: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy. Schiller:Celator/Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Ferrell:Incyte: Research Funding. Kelly:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Li:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Sweeney:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Watson:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Mohamed:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Cortes:Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding.

Background:Sapacitabine is a novel oral nucleoside analogue with a unique ability to induce single-strand DNA breaks after incorporation into DNA, leading to production of double-strand DNA breaks and/or G2 cell cycle arrest. In AML cell lines, the active metabolite of sapacitabine, CNDAC, is synergistic with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) particularly when treated with HMAs first. In a pilot study, there were 6 CRs and 2 PRs in 25 patients treated with sapacitabine in alternating cycles with decitabine. This global randomized phase 3 study evaluated the survival benefit of this treatment strategy vs. decitabine monotherapy. Methods:Decitabine 20 mg/m2was administered intravenously daily x 5 days of a 4-week cycle (for the control arm and odd cycles of the study arm) alternating with sapacitabine 300 mg p.o. b.i.d.x 3 days/week x 2 weeks of a 4-week cycle (even cycles of the study arm). The safety of these doses was further evaluated in the lead-in phase of the phase 3 study to confirm the findings from the pilot study. Eligible patients were ≥70 years with untreated AML and unsuitable for or unwilling to receive standard induction chemotherapy. Patients who had received HMAs for prior MDS or MPD were excluded. Results:For 482 patients randomized to receive decitabine/sapacitabine (n=241) vs. decitabine only (n=241), randomization was stratified by the presence of antecedent MDS or MPN, peripheral white blood cell count (WBC <10,000 vs. ≥10,000) and bone marrow blast percentage (≥50% vs. < 50%). Median age was 77 years (range 70-90), and 317 patients had de novoAML (66%), 165 secondary AML (34%). WBC was ≥10,000 in 161 patients (33%) and >40,000 in 59 patients (12%); 194 patients (40%) had unfavorable cytogenetic risk by SWOG criteria. Disease characteristics were well balanced in both arms. In total, 13.7% of patients achieved CR, more on the study arm vs. control (16.6% vs. 10.8%). A total of 37.3% treated patients received ≥5 cycles of treatment, similar on both arms, as were 30- and 60-day death rates. Median overall survival was 5.9 months on the study arm vs. 5.7 months on control arm, which did not reach a statistically significant difference. In the subgroup of patients with <10,000 WBC (n=321), median overall survival was higher on the study arm vs. control arm (8.0 months vs. 5.8 months), as was CR rate (21.5% vs. 8.6%). Grade 3 or higher adverse events (regardless of causality) that occurred in >10% patients were thrombocytopenia, anemia, neutropenia, pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, sepsis, and disease progression. Conclusion:The regimen of sapacitabine administered in alternating cycles with decitabine was active and well tolerated but it did not significantly improve overall survival as compared to decitabine monotherapy. Further analyses are being conducted to characterize the subgroups of patients who appeared to have benefited from this treatment regimen and the potential cost savings associated with the use of an oral drug.

Introduction:

Lanza: Roche-Genentech: Employment. Martinelli:Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau. Yee:Novartis Canada: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Jukofsky:Roche Pharma: Employment. Reis:Roche Pharma: Employment. Blotner:Roche Pharma: Employment. Drummond:Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Vey:Sunesis: Honoraria. Dickinson:GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kelly:Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Theron:Roche Pharma: Employment. Venstrom:Roche-Genentech: Employment. Middleton:Roche Pharma: Employment. Chen:Roche Pharma: Employment. Kinnersley:Roche-Genentech: Employment, Equity Ownership. Nichols:Roche Pharma: Employment. Pierceall:Roche Pharma: Employment.

Reis: Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jukofsky:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chen:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Martinelli:BMS: Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; ARIAD: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy. Zhong:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. So:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Drummond:Baxalta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: 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, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Assouline:Pfizer: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Hashemyan:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Theron:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Blotner:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rueger:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Middleton:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Vey:Celgene: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria. Nichols:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chen:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Pierceall:Roche Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership.

The CLAG regimen (G-CSF 300 mcg sc, cladribine 5 mg/m2over 2 hours, and cytarabine 2 gm/m2over 4 hours beginning 2 hours after cladribine, all daily times 5 days) was originally devised by Robak et al (Leuk Lymphoma 2000; 36:121-9) as induction therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Fifty percent of patients achieved a CR with a median duration of 22.5 weeks. This group subsequently added mitoxantrone to the regimen (Wrzesien-Kus A, et al. Ann Hematol 2005; 84:557-64). We treated 20 patients with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia who were considered unsuitable for our intensive high-dose cytarabine, high-dose mitoxantrone frontline induction regimen either due to age or cardiac dysfunction with CLAG-based therapy. Patients with a cardiac ejection fraction above 50% additionally received either mitoxantrone (mito) or idarubicin (ida), 12 mg/m2times 3 days, concurrently with CLAG. Of 20 patients treated, 5 received CLAG, 12 received CLAG-ida and 3 received CLAG-mito. The median age was 64 years (range 42-79 years). There were 13 men and 7 women. Six patients had received prior chemo and/or RT for a previous malignancy. In addition 3 patients had a prior MPD and 1 had prior MDS (total of 10 patients with secondary AML). Patients had a median of 3 comorbidities (range 0-7). Cytogenetic risk was good: 2 patients (however one was FLT3 ITD+), intermediate: 10 patients, poor: 8 patients. Only one patient was FLT3 ITD+. Responding patients (CR or PR) received 1 (5 pts), 2 (2 pts), 3 (8 pts) or 4 (2 pts) cycles of CLAG+/- ida or mito followed by allogeneic stem cell transplant (4 pts), hidac (2 pts) or decitabine maintenance (4 pts). Most patients responded to therapy. There were 13 formal CRs (65%), 1 CRp (5%), 3 PR (15%, defined as 6-10% blasts on marrow with complete hematologic recovery in the peripheral blood), 2 failures (10%) and one early death (5%). Other than the early death, treatment was well tolerated with few toxicities other than neutropenic fever and cytopenias. Estimated overall survival by Kaplan Meier analysis is 29.6 months (95% CI 20.1-39.2 months). Duration of response is 32.3 months (95% CI 21.6-43.1 months).

Yee: Roche: Research Funding. Martinelli:Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; ARIAD: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Vey:Roche: Honoraria. Assouline:Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria. Drummond:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Blotner:Roche: Employment. Higgins:Roche: Employment. Middleton:Roche: Employment. Nichols:Roche: Employment. Chen:Roche: Employment. Zhong:Roche: Employment. Pierceall:Roche: Employment. Zhi:Roche: Employment. Chen:Roche: Employment.

Sapacitabine is an orally administered nucleoside analogue which causes single-strand DNA breaks and induces G2 cell cycle arrest. A multi-center, randomized phase 2 study was conducted to evaluate 3 dose regimens in older patients with MDS refractory to hypomethylating agents. The primary endpoint was 1-year survival. Secondary endpoints included the rate of CR, CRp, PR, major hematological improvement (HI) or stable disease and their corresponding durations. The study used a selection design to identify a dose regimen which produced a better 1-year survival rate in the event that all three dose regimens were active. The planned sample size was 60 patients (20 patients in each arm).

Activation of the p53 pathway through inhibition of its negative regulator MDM2 is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Phase 1 results in AML with RG7112, a small-molecule antagonist of MDM2, demonstrated single-agent activity, including complete responses (CRs) (ASH 2012). Here we report results of a Phase 1b trial of RG7112 in combination with Ara-C in pts with AML.This is a multicenter, open-label phase 1b study of pts with AML treated with escalating oral doses of RG7112 in 2 arms. Arm A: pts unsuitable for standard (re)induction, treated with RG7112 and Ara-C 20 mg/m2 SC both daily × 10 days every 28 days; arm B: relapsed/refractory pts treated with RG7112 × 5 days and Ara-C 1 g/m2 IV × 6 days every 28 days. Primary objectives were to determine MTD and DLTs; secondary objectives were pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, and clinical responses. Blood and bone marrow were collected for PK and biomarker analyses pre- and at multiple on-treatment time points. Mutations in TP53 were detected using the PCR- and microarray-based AmpliChip p53 research test, detecting single-nucleotide alterations of exons 2-11. Pharmacodynamic markers of p53 activation included serum MIC-1 measured by ELISA, and MDM2gene expression by RT-PCR.Enrollment is complete with forty-three pts treated (16 arm A, 27 arm B) with escalating doses of RG7112. 3 DLTs included rash and prolonged thrombocytopenia (Arm B) and diarrhea (Arm A). MTD was 1000 mg bid × 10 days (arm A) and 1500 mg bid x 5 days (arm B) based on prolonged cytopenias. PK (Cmax, AUC, and Ctrough) data were comparable with historic monotherapies, suggesting no drug-drug interactions. Adverse events (> 20%) were GI or infectious.Arm A: median age 70 y, median prior therapies 1. During the initial safety period 2 pts died (ARDS, sepsis). See table for results for the 14 pts completing cycle 1. CRs (21%) occurred at 1g and 2g of RG7112 in pts with no prior therapy or HU. ORR (CR,PR, SD/HI) was 43%.median age 50 y, median prior therapies 3 (all relapsed after Ara-C). During the initial safety period 4 pts died of sepsis (1 complicated by multi-organ failure). See table for results for the 23 pts completing cycle 1. CRs (17%) were observed in patients refractory to DA, and MEC (2) or HiDAc (1) and occurred at RG7112 doses >2g/d. ORR was 52%. Three pts bridged to transplant (1 CR, 2 HI).CRi, complete remission with incomplete recovery; CRp, complete remission with incomplete platelet recovery; PR, Partial Response; SD, Stable Disease; HI, Hematologic Improvement; HU, Hydroxyurea; PD, Progressive Disease; Nl, Normal Karyotype; DA, Daunorubicin and Ara-C; MEC, Mitoxantrone, Etoposide, and Ara-C; HiDAc, High dose intermittent Ara-C; AZA, Azacitidine; MDS, myelodysplastic syndromes. *Two continue on therapy as of July 2013MIC-1 induction was similar to RG7112 monotherapy. Preliminary data demonstrated increased MDM2 expression on day 2, consistent with the MoA (p53 activation and associated feedback) previously reported (Ray-Coquard, 2012). TP53 activation did not consistently correlate with clinical activity, implying factors downstream of functional p53 may be critical for activity. Additionally, a predictive mRNA signature that significantly correlates with RG7112 efficacy in cell lines and in phase 1 AML pt samples (Spearman correlation, 0.6; P= 0.0009; manuscript in preparation) was prospectively evaluated in this study.Here we report the safety and clinical activity of an MDM2 antagonist in combination with Ara-C in pts with AML. CRs in elderly and heavily pretreated pts refractory to cytarabine-containing regimens were observed. Pharmacodynamic activity of the p53 pathway was demonstrated by increases in MIC-1 and MDM2 expression. Results of ongoing biomarker analyses to predict response for future development will be reported.Yee: Roche: Research Funding. Assouline:Roche: Research Funding. Kasner:Roche: Research Funding. Blotner:Roche: Employment. Jukofsky:Roche: Employment. Middleton:Roche: Employment. Zhi:Roche: Employment. Chen:Roche: Employment. Zhong:Roche: Employment. Nichols:Roche: Employment.

Sapacitabine is a novel nucleoside analogue with a unique ability to induce single-strand DNA breaks after incorporation into DNA, leading to production of double strand DNA breaks and/or G2 cell cycle arrest. In AML cell lines, the active metabolite of sapacitabine, CNDAC, is synergistic with hypomethylating agents with the synergy being more apparent if cells are treated with hypomethylating agents first. In addition to single-agent activity, sapacitabine has recently shown sufficient activity when administered in alternating cycles with decitabine to be further evaluated in a large randomized phase III study. Here we report the pooled analysis of 46 patients who were treated in a phase I/II study (n=25) and the lead-in phase of the phase III study (n=21). Methods: Decitabine 20 mg/m2 was administered intravenously daily × 5 days of a 4-week cycle (odd cycles) alternating with sapacitabine 300 mg po b.i.d. × 3 days/week × 2 weeks of a 4-week cycle (even cycles). After these doses were shown to be safe and active in the phase I/II study, this treatment was further evaluated in the lead-in phase of the phase III study to confirm the findings from the phase I/II study. Eligible patients must have been ≥70 years with untreated AML unsuitable for or unwilling to receive standard induction chemotherapy; patients who received hypomethylating agents for prior MDS or MPD were excluded. Results: As of August 2012, 46 patients were treated with the above regimen. Median age is 77 years (range, 72–90). Thirty-three patients are 75 years or older (71.7%). Two DLTs were observed (lung infection/sepsis, typhlitis). Seventeen patients responded (37%) with 10 CRs, 2 PRs and 5 major HIs. Median time to response is 2 cycles, i.e., one cycle of decitabine and one cycle of sapacitabine (range 1– 10). Twenty-five patients have received ≥ 5 cycles of treatment (54.3%). Six patients died within 60-days (13%) with one death from typhlitis considered to be possibly related to decitabine by investigator assessment. Median overall survival is 238 days and 13 patients are still alive (28.3%). Sixteen patients survived 1 year or longer (34.8%). Common adverse events (regardless of causality) included asthenia, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, dyspnea, peripheral edema, back pain, cellulitis, febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, mostly moderate in intensity. Conclusion: The sequential combination of decitabine and sapacitabine appears to be safe and active. A large randomized, phase III trial is currently underway comparing this treatment regimen against single agent decitabine in the treatment of elderly AML.Ravandi: Eisai: Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Use of decitaboine in AML. Goldberg:Cyclacel: Research Funding. Wetzler:Cyclacel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Seiter:Eisai: Speakers Bureau; Cyclacel: Honoraria. Chiao:Cyclacel: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Kantarjian:Cyclacel: Research Funding; Eisai: Research Funding.

Off Label Use: Use of decitabine in AML. Seiter:Eisai: Speakers Bureau.

VCR is an important component of the treatment of ALL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, and other adult and childhood cancers. In part, because of the cell cycle specific activity of VCR, its anti-cancer activity is believed to be very exposure time and concentration dependent. Standard dosing of conventional VCR (1.4 mg/m2 with a 2 mg cap) is limited because of early onset peripheral neuropathy and fails to achieve sustained VCR delivery. VSLI (Marqibo) is a nano-particle encapsulated formulation of VCR designed to facilitate dose intensification, prolonged drug delivery and enhanced cancer penetration and concentration.In a pivotal, Phase 2, multi-national study (RALLY Trial), 65 adults with Philadelphia chromosome negative ALL who were either in second or greater relapse or who had progressed after two or more prior lines of treatment received single-agent intravenous VSLI 2.25 mg/m2 (without any dose cap) weekly over 1 hour as salvage therapy. First-dose PK was investigated in a representative subset of 13 study subjects. Blood for analysis was collected at 8 time points ranging from 5 minutes to 48 hours following infusion. Total VCR plasma levels were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. PK parameters were calculated with Phoenix WinNonlin.The PK subject subset had a median body surface area (BSA) of 1.92 m2 (range 1.47 to 2.45 m2) and received a median VSLI dose (VCR component) of 4.32 mg (range 3.3 to 5.51 mg). Based on BSA and the 2 mg dose cap, all subjects in this study group would have been dosed with 2.0 mg of conventional VCR. The median cumulative induction dose of VSLI (VCR component) that was administered in this study was 18.8 mg (range 3.5 to 70.1 mg). Total VCR plasma concentration decreased rapidly from Cmax after the VSLI infusion in 5 subjects (38%); 8 subjects (62%) exhibited a delay of 4 to 10 hours before the total VCR plasma concentration began to decrease. The calculated Tmax was 1.3 ± 0.4 hours (range 1.1 to 2.0 hours). The Cmax was 1214 ± 233 ng/mL (range 919 to 1720 ng/mL). The apparent mean half-life was 7.1 ± 3.2 hours. The mean AUCinf was 13,993 ± 6,588 ng hr/mL with a range from 7,167 to 27,233 ng hr/mL. The mean clearance (CL) was 6.4 ± 2.6 mL/min. The mean volume of distribution (Vd) was 0.051 ± 0.018 L/Kg. There were no significant differences in the PK parameters between the male and female subjects participating in this study. The table below presents VSLI PK parameters in addition to historical PK parameters for conventional VCR dosed at 2 mg.VSLI clearly provides dose intensification and prolonged VCR delivery compared to conventional, non-encapsulated VCR. VSLI, as dosed in this adult ALL clinical trial, delivered individual and cumulative amounts of VCR that exceed those achievable with standard and approved dosing of conventional VCR. This translated into a median dose intensification of 116% (range 65 to 176 percent) calculated as the percent change in VSLI dose from a standard VCR dose. This dose intensification is believed to have contributed to the 35% overall response rate including 20% complete responses (with or without full blood count recovery) reported in this heavily pre-treated, multiply-relapsed/refractory population without apparent enhanced toxicity [J Clin Oncol 28:15s, 2010 (suppl; abst 6507)]. VSLI has a distinctly different PK profile than conventional VCR. The larger VSLI Cmax and AUCinf reflect the dose intensification afforded by a larger mg/m2 dose and lack of dose capping. Even in the absence of dose capping, the 2.25 mg/m2 VSLI dose represents a 61% dose escalation above conventional VCR. While Cmax and AUCinf are dose-dependent PK parameters, the observed differences between VSLI and VCR control cannot be explained by dose alone. The larger AUCinf also reflects prolonged circulation afforded by the sphingomyelin:cholesterol liposome encapsulation. The modest VSLI mean CL and small Vd reflect the retention of encapsulated VCR within the plasma compartment for an extended period of time so that VCR can better penetrate and accumulate in sites of cancer through fenestrated vasculature. The enhanced delivery of encapsulated VCR contributes to maintenance of VCR concentrations above the effective concentration.Silverman: Hana Biosciences: Employment. Deitcher: Hana Biosciences: Employment.