Forensic mental telehealth assessment (FMTA) in the context of COVID-19.

Due to the present COVID-19 pandemic, forensic mental telehealth assessment (FMTA) is an increasingly utilized means of conducting court-sanctioned psychiatric and psychological evaluations. FMTA is not a novel development, and studies have been published during the past two decades that opine on the positive and negative implications of conducting testing and interview procedures online, in forensic and traditionally clinical matters alike. The present article examines prospects for eventual legal challenges to FMTA, describes considerations for conducting FMTA in both institutional and residential settings, and concludes that FMTA is now-due to predicted accommodations on the part of courts, attorneys, institutions, and professional guilds-a permanent part of the forensic evaluation landscape, even once the present COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.

Daubert Considerations in Forensic Evaluations by Telepsychiatry.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for telepsychiatric services. Forensic psychiatrists can expect to receive more requests for assessments conducted via videoconferencing technology in the years to come. Under current rules of evidence in the United States, the testimony of expert witnesses is introduced as a form of scientific evidence and may be challenged by opposing counsel through Daubert hearings. In a Daubert challenge, courts may evaluate proposed expert testimony through four criteria relating to scientific reliability and validity: whether the testimony is based on methods that emerge from a testable hypothesis, whether the method has been subjected to peer review, the known or potential rate of error associated with the method, and whether the method has achieved general acceptance in the relevant scientific community. To date, courts have not addressed whether testimony based on a telepsychiatric assessment would meet standards of reliability and validity for admission into evidence, as applied in a typical Daubert hearing. This article explores the Daubert standards and other potential objections to telepsychiatry as they may apply to forensic psychiatric examinations conducted via videoconferencing technology. The discussion also provides suggestions to evaluators to increase the likelihood of such testimony surviving a Daubert challenge.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cancer: A joint analysis of OnCovid and ESMO-CoCARE registries

Background: As management and prevention strategies against Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) evolve, it is still uncertain whether prior exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) affects COVID-19 severity in patients (pts) with cancer. Method(s): In a joint analysis of ICI recipients from OnCovid (NCT04393974) and ESMO CoCARE registries, we assessed severity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated and unvaccinated pts with cancer and explored whether prior immune-related adverse events (irAEs) influenced outcome from COVID-19. Result(s): The study population consisted of 240 pts diagnosed with COVID-19 between Jan 2020 and Feb 2022 exposed to ICI within 3 months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis, with a 30-day case fatality rate (CFR30) of 23.6% (95%CI: 17.8-30.7%). 42 (17.5%) were fully vaccinated prior to COVID-19 and experienced decreased CFR30 (4.8% vs 28.1%, p=0.001), hospitalization rate (27.5% vs 63.2%, p<0.001), requirement of oxygen therapy (15.8% vs 41.5%, p=0.003), COVID-19 complication rate (11.9% vs 34.6%, p=0.004), and COVID-19-specific therapy (26.3% vs 57.9%, p=0.001) compared with unvaccinated pts. IPTW-fitted multivariable analysis, following a clustered-robust correction for the data source (OnCovid vs ESMO CoCARE), confirmed that vaccinated pts experienced a decreased risk of death at 30 days (aOR 0.08, 95%CI: 0.01-0.69). 38 pts (15.8%) experienced at least 1 irAE of any grade at any time prior to COVID-19, at a median time of 3.2 months (0.13-48.7) from COVID-19 diagnosis. IrAEs occurred independently of baseline characteristics except for primary tumour (p=0.037) and were associated with a significantly decreased CFR30 (10.8% vs 26.0%, p=0.0462) additionally confirmed by the IPTW-fitted multivariable analysis (aOR: 0.47, 95%CI: 0.33-0.67). Pts who experienced irAEs also presented a higher median absolute lymphocyte count at COVID-19 (1.4 vs 0.8 109 cells/L, p=0.009). Conclusion(s): Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination reduces morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in ICI recipients. History of irAEs might identify pts with pre-existing protection from COVID-19, warranting further investigation of adaptive immune determinants of protection from SARS-CoV-2. Clinical trial identification: NCT04393974 OnCovid. Legal entity responsible for the study: Imperial College London & ESMO. Funding(s): Imperial Biomedical Research Centre ESMO. Disclosure: A. Cortellini: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: MSD, OncoC4;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Eisai, AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony: Iqvia. D.J. Pinato: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: ViiV Healthcare, Bayer, BMS, Roche, Eisai, Falk Foundation;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Mina Therapuetics, Eisai, Roche, DaVolterra, AstraZeneca. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology

Comparison of abiraterone acetate and prednisolone (AAP) or combination enzalutamide (ENZ) + AAP for metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) starting androgen deprivation therapy (ADT): Overall survival (OS) results of 2 randomised phase III trials from the STAMPEDE protocol

Background: AAP or ENZ added to ADT improves outcomes for mHSPC. Any benefit of combining ENZ & AAP in this disease setting is uncertain. Methods: STAMPEDE is a multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS), platform protocol conducted at 117 sites in the UK & Switzerland. 2 trials with no overlapping controls randomised mHSPC patients (pts) 1:1 to ADT +/- AAP (1000mg od AA + 5mg od P) or AAP + ENZ (160mg od). Treatment was continued to progression. From Jan 2016 docetaxel 75mg/m2 3-weekly with P 10mg od was permitted + ADT. Using meta-analysis methods, we tested for evidence of a difference in OS and secondary outcomes (as described previously: failure-free, metastatic progression-free, progression-free & prostate cancer specific survival) across the 2 trials using data frozen 3 Jul 2022. All confidence intervals (CI) 95%. Restricted mean survival times (RMST) restricted to 84 months (m). Results: Between Nov 2011 & Jan 2014, 1003 pts were randomised ADT +/- AAP & between Jul 2014 & Mar 2016, 916 pts were randomised ADT +/- AAP + ENZ. Randomised groups were well balanced across both trials. Pt cohort: age, median 68 years (yr), IQR 63, 72;PSA prior to ADT, median 95.7 ng/ml, IQR 26.5, 346;de novo 94%, relapsed after radical treatment, 6%. In AAP + ENZ trial, 9% had docetaxel + ADT. OS benefit in AAP + ENZ trial, HR 0.65 (CI 0.55‒0.77) p = 1.4×10-6;in AAP trial, HR 0.62 (0.53, 0.73) p = 1.6×10-9. No evidence of a difference in treatment effect (interaction HR 1.05 CI 0.83‒1.32, p = 0.71) or between-trial heterogeneity (I2 p = 0.70). Same for secondary end-points. % (CI) of pts reporting grade 3-5 toxicity in 1st 5 yr: AAP trial, ADT: 38.5 (34.2-42.8), + AAP: 54.4 (50.0-58.8);AAP + ENZ trial, ADT: 45.2 (40.6 – 49.8), + AAP + ENZ: 67.9 (63.5 – 72.2);most frequently increased with AAP or AAP + ENZ = liver derangement, hypertension. At 7 yr in AAP trial (median follow-up: 95.8m), % (CI) pts alive with ADT: 30 (26, 34) versus with ADT + AAP: 48 (43, 52);RMST: ADT: 50.4m, ADT + AAP: 60.6m, p = 6.6 x 10-9. Conclusions: ENZ + AAP need not be combined for mHSPC. Clinically important improvements in OS when adding AAP to ADT are maintained at 7 yr. Clinical trial identification: NCT00268476. Legal entity responsible for the study: Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at University College London. Funding: Cancer Research UK, Medical Research Council, Janssen, Astellas. Disclosure: G. Attard: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Janssen, Astellas, AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Janssen, Astellas, Novartis, Bayer, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sapience, Orion;Financial Interests, Personal, Royalties, Included in list of rewards to discoverers of abiraterone: Institute of Cancer Research;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Janssen, Astellas;Non-Financial Interests, Principal Investigator: Janssen, Astellas;Non-Financial Interests, Advisory Role: Janssen, AstraZeneca. W.R. Cross: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speaker fee: Myriad Genetics, Janssen, Astellas;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board fee: Bayer;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Research grant: Myriad Genetics. S. Gillessen: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, 2018: Sanofi, Roche;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, 2018, 2019: Orion;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, 2019 Speaker's Bureau: Janssen Cilag;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, 2020: Amgen;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, 2020: ESMO;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel Grant 2020: ProteoMEdiX;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, 2018, 2019, 2022: Bayer;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, 2020: Janssen Cilag, Roche, MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, 2018: AAA International, Menarini Silicon Biosystems;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, 2019, 2020: Astellas Pharma;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory B ard, 2019: Tolero Pharmaceuticals;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, 2021, 2022: SAKK, DESO;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, 2021: Telixpharma, BMS, AAA International, Novartis, Modra Pharmaceuticas Holding B.V.;Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Steering Committee 2021: Amgen;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, 2021, 2022: Orion, Bayer;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, 2021: SAKK, SAKK, SAMO - IBCSG (Swiss Academy of Multidisciplinary oncology);Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, 2021: MSD Merck Sharp & Dhome;Financial Interests, Personal, 2021: RSI (Televisione Svizzera Italiana);Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, 2021: Silvio Grasso Consulting;Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Faculty activity 2022: WebMD-Medscape;Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, 2022: Myriad genetics, AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, 2022: TOLREMO;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel support 2022: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Institutional, Funding, 2021, Unrestricted grant for a Covid related study as co-investigator: Astellas;Non-Financial Interests, Advisory Role, 2019: Menarini Silicon Biosystems, Aranda;Non-Financial Interests, Advisory Role, Continuing: ProteoMediX. C. Pezaro: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Ad board Dec 2020: Advanced Accelerator Applications;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Aug 2021: Astellas;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Oct 2021: Bayer;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Sept-Oct 2020: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Oct 2020: Janssen;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, July-Sept 2022: Pfizer. Z. Malik: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, advisry board for new hormonal therapy for breast cancer: sanofi;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, research grant for CHROME study: sanofi;Other, Other, support to attend meetings or advisory boards in the past: Astellas,Jaansen,Bayer;Other, Other, Sponsorship to attend ASCO meeting 2022: Bayer. M.R. Sydes: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speaker fees at clinical trial statistics training sessions for clinicians (no discussion of particular drugs): Janssen;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speaker fees at clinical trial statistics training session for clinicians (no discussion of particular drugs): Eli Lilly;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Educational grant and drug for STAMPEDE trial: Astellas, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Educational grant and biomarker costs for STAMPEDE trial: Clovis Oncology. L.C. brown: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, £170k educational grant for the FOCUS4-C Trial from June 2017 to Dec 2021: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Institutional, Funding, Various grants awarded to my institution for work undertaken as part of the STAMPEDE Trial: janssen pharmaceuticals;Non-Financial Interests, Other, I am a member of the CRUK CERP funding advisory panel and my Institution also receive grant funding from CRUK for the STAMPEDE and FOCUS4 trials: Cancer Research UK. M.K. Parmar: Financial Interests, Institutional, Full or part-time Employment, Director at MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL: Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: AstraZeneca, Astellas, Janssen, Clovis;Non-Financial Interests, Advisory Role, Euro Ewing Consortium: University College London;Non-Financial Interests, Advisory Role, rEECur: University of Birmingham;Non-Financial Interests, Advisory Role, CompARE Trial: University of Birmingham. N.D. James: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advice around PARP inhibitors: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Prostate cancer therapies: Janssen, Clovis, Novartis;Financial Interests, Institutional, Expert Testimony, Assisted with submissions regarding licencing for abiraterone: Janssen;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Docetaxel: Sanofi;Financial Interests, Institutional, Expert Testimony, Providing STAMPEDE trial data to facilitate licence extensions internationally for docetaxel: Sanofi;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Bladder cancer therapy: Merck;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advice around novel hormone therapies for prostate cancer: Bayer;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Lecture tour in Brazil August 2022 - speaking on therapy for advanced prostate cancer: Merck Sharp & Dohme (UK) Limited;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, Funding for STAMPEDE trial: Janssen, Astellas;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, Funding for RADIO trial bladder cancer: AstraZeneca. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Causes of unplanned hospitalizations and factors associated with in-hospital mortality among patients receiving chemotherapy treatment

Background: Hospitalizations during cancer treatment are common, can impact quality of life and the progress of the treatment. We aimed to investigate the main causes of hospitalizations and factors associated with in-hospital mortality for patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This retrospective study included patients (pts) with solid tumors, who received outpatient chemotherapy in the 30-day period before unplanned admission to a cancer center in Brazil, from February to December of 2021. Patients with COVID-19 diagnosis were excluded. We retrieved clinical and laboratory data from health records. Logistic regression univariable and multivariable models were performed to analyze the association of the variables and in-hospital mortality as dependent outcome. Results: 784 pts were included, median age at hospitalization was 60 (IQR 49-68), and 57% were female. Most patients had ECOG 0-1 (61%) and nearly 70% had metastatic disease at admission. The most common primary tumors were colorectal (21.6%), breast (20.1%), lung (8.6%), and gastric (8.6%). Over half (56%) received platin-based regimens, usually in association with fluoropyrimidines or taxanes. Pain (33%), nausea (23%) and fever (16%) were the most referred symptoms at admission. The main diagnosis at were infection (32%), followed by disease progression (DP) (29%), and chemotherapy associated toxicity (26%). A total of 174 (22%) pts required intensive care unit support during hospital stay. The in-hospital overall mortality rate was 18%. Univariable analysis revealed poor ECOG-PS, grade 3 anemia, grade 3 thrombocytopenia and DP associated with in-hospital mortality. In the final multivariable model, ECOG ≥ 2 (OR 1.99, CI 95% 1.33 - 2.99, p <0.001), DP (OR 4.62, CI 95% 3.07 - 7.00, p <0.001) and grade 3 anemia (OR 2.38, CI 95% 1.45 - 3.87, p<0.001) remained statistically associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: A substantial percentage of unplanned admissions after chemotherapy treatment are due to toxicity. Poor performance status, progression of disease on admission and severe anemia are associated with worse in-hospital prognosis. Grade 3 anemia on admission was the only toxicity associated with in-hospital mortality. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: R.C. Bonadio: Personal, Expert Testimony: AstraZeneca, Ache;Personal, Research Grant: Novartis;Personal, Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality after unplanned admissions among adults with cancer aged 80 years and older

Background: Patients older than 80 years with cancer are more likely to be late-diagnosed, and less likely to receive optimal cancer treatment, compared to younger geriatric patients. Understanding the factors that influence these patient's outcomes is essential to guide their management and proper choice of assistance. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients with solid tumors older than 80 years admitted to a tertiary, publicly-funded, cancer center in Brazil, from February 1st to December 31st, 2021. COVID-19 diagnoses were excluded. We collected data on staging, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, ECOG-PS, symptoms, admission diagnoses, and in-hospital mortality. The age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI] was further calculated. We investigated the association between collected variables of interest and in-hospital mortality with uni and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Of 440 patients, the median age was 84 (IQR 81-87) and 58% were men. Prevalent cancer diagnoses were prostate (22%), breast (12%), colon (9.5%), and lung cancer (8.1%). Before admission, 42% of patients had distant metastasis, while 21% had no evidence of disease. Two-thirds of patients had poorer ECOG-PS (≥2), and the median CCI was 10 (IQR 8-11). Comorbidities included cardiovascular disease (29%), chronic renal disease (13%), dementia (9.5%) and COPD (9.1%). Pain (27%), dyspnea (18%), and altered level of consciousness (16%) were the most prevalent complaints. During hospitalization, 35% had an infection diagnosis and 26% had progression of disease. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 25%. Higher CCI (OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.11-1.38), poorer ECOG-PS (OR 2.17, 95%CI 1.29-3.77), and progression of disease (OR 2.77, 95%CI 1.62-4.75) were associated with in-hospital mortality after univariable regression and remained all statistically significant in the multivariable model. BMI and age were not associated with poorer outcomes. Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with cancer aged 80 years and older have a high mortality rate. The Charlson Comorbidity Index, a comorbidity burden score that includes cancer staging, correlates with in-hospital mortality and therefore could guide supportive care decisions for older adults. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: R.C. Bonadio: Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony: AstraZeneca, Ache;Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant: Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal, Sponsor/Funding: Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Barriers, facilitators, and preferences to exercise interventions in patients with metastatic breast cancer: A qualitative study in four European countries

Background: Exercise is a promising strategy to improve fatigue and quality of life in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, little is known about patients’ barriers, facilitators, and preferences for supervised exercise programs. An in-depth understanding of the patients’ perspective could help to define the role of exercise professionals in this regard and support the development and implementation of successful exercise interventions. Methods: Eleven online focus groups were held, including a total of 44 participants from four European countries (DE, ESP, PL, SE). In semi-structured group sessions, patients were encouraged to discuss their reasons to participate in supervised exercise programs, experienced barriers and exercise preferences. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and coded based on a preliminary coding framework, supplemented by themes that emerged during the sessions. Results: Participants expressed positive attitudes towards exercise. Facilitating factors for participation in supervised programs included the benefits of social contact, professional guidance, and the experience of physical and psychological benefits. The main barriers cited were practical issues, physical limitations due to cancer and its treatment, and safety concerns due to Covid-19. Participants did not have a clear, shared preference regarding exercise type or setting, but would appreciate mixed exercises (i.e., aerobic, strength, and mind-body exercises) in flexible training modules. Individualized training programs and feedback from exercise professionals were strongly desired. Conclusions: While there was common ground regarding several barriers and facilitators, patients expressed mixed preferences for exercise programs. This related to benefits of social interaction in group exercise on the one hand, and the need for individualized tailoring to deal with physical restrictions on the other hand. Exercise professionals can play an important role in supporting exercise for MBC patients by identifying individual needs and providing training programs that are adjusted to patients' abilities and preferences. Legal entity responsible for the study: Netherlands Cancer Institute / Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital. Funding: European Commission Research & Innovation Horizon 2020. Disclosure: A.M. May: Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Role, Paid to institution: COMPASS. K. Steindorf: Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony, < €5,000: Institut National contre le cancer (INCA), Paris, France;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony, Member of Data Monitoring Board;< €1,000: Swiss Group for Clinical Research (SAAK), Switzerland;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, < €1,000: Adviva, Heidelberg, Germany, Pierre Fabre, Freiburg, Germany, Takeda, Breast Cancer Care Center, Unna, Germany, Audi Health Care Insurance, Ingolstadt, Germany, University of Mainz, Germany;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Lecturer fee in Master Course, < €2,000: University of Heidelberg, Germany;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony, compensation of travel costs, no further fees: German Research Foundation (DFG), Bonn, Germany;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony, < €1,000: University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Net treatment benefit of OSE2101 in HLA-A2+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after failure to immune checkpoint inhibitors (IO) in phase III Atalante-1 randomized trial

Background: OSE2101 (Tedopi) is an anticancer vaccine that increased overall survival (OS) (HR 0.59, p=0.017) versus Standard of Care Chemotherapy in the population of interest (PoI N=118) of patients with IO secondary resistance after sequential CT-IO (ESMO 2021 #47LBA). The Net Treatment Benefit (NTB) is an original method combining efficacy and safety endpoints to test the overall improvement in health outcome between 2 treatments (Buyse M. Stat Med 2010). NTB was assessed in the overall population (N=219) from whom OS improvement of OSE2101 (HR 0.86, p=0.35) was lower than in PoI. Methods: NTB was tested by comparing prioritized outcomes using Generalized Paired Wise Comparisons (GPC). The prioritized outcomes were OS, then time to worsening ECOG (threshold=2 months) followed by severe adverse events, progression free survival (shorter vs. longer than 2 months) and Quality of Life (threshold=5 points on Global Health Status of EORTC-QLQC30). Analysis was stratified using the 3 strata of the study (histology, best response to 1rst line, line of prior IO) and enrollment time (before vs during COVID-19). Sensitivity analyses used no stratification, different thresholds of clinical relevance and PoI. Results: In the primary analysis (1088 pairs), NTB was 19% and reached statistical significance in favor of OSE2101 (p=0.035). In unstratified analysis (11120 pairs), NTB was 11% (p=0.188). In the PoI (388 pairs), NTB was 22% (p stratified=0.074) and 28% (p=0.014) in unstratified analysis (3040 pairs). Although the primary analysis was statistically positive, results were not consistent in some sensitivity analyses due to the limited sample size and the impact of stratification factors. Conclusions: An overall improvement in health outcome was observed with OSE2101 in the overall population of advanced NSCLC after IO failure with a NTB of 19% over SoC. In PoI with IO secondary resistance after CT-IO, the NTB was 22%. Post-hoc analyses are ongoing intended to explain the variability of NTB and will be detailed. Clinical trial identification: EudraCT: 2015-003183-36;NCT02654587. Editorial acknowledgement: We thank Pierre Attali (Medical Expert, MD) for his support in the writing of the . Legal entity responsible for the study: Ose Immunotherapeutics. Funding: Ose Immunotherapeutics. Disclosure: M.E. Buyse: Financial Interests, Personal, Officer, Chief Scientific Officer: IDDI;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Board Member: CluePoints;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: IDDI, CluePoints. F. Montestruc: Financial Interests, Personal, Member of the Board of Directors, CEO of the Company: eXYSTAT SAS;Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Statistician Consultant: AbbVie, Biocodex, Geneuro, Gensight, Guerbet, Imcheck, Ose Immunotherapeutics, Pfizer, Takeda;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Statistician Consultant and Training: Institut Pasteur. J. Chiem: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: IDDI. V. Deltuvaite-Thomas: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: IDDI. S. Salvaggio: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment, Working as a statistician: International Drug Development Institute. M.R. Garcia Campelo: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Roche/Genentech, MSD Oncology, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Novartis, Takeda, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen Oncology;Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: Roche, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Novartis, Takeda, Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD Oncology, Sanofi/Aventis, Janssen Oncology, Amgen;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Roche/Genentech, MSD Oncology, Pfizer. F. Cappuzzo: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, AstraZeneca, BMS, Pfizer, Takeda, Lilly, Bayer, Amgen, Sanofi, PharmaMar, Mirati, Novocure, OSE, and MSD;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Roche, AstraZeneca, BMS, Pfizer, Takeda, Lilly, Bayer, Amgen, Sanofi, Mirati, PharmaMar, Novocure, OSE, Galecto and MS . S. Viteri Ramirez: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Merck Healthcare KGAA Germany, Bristol Myers Squibb S.A. U, Puma Biotechnology;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Takeda Farmaceutica España SA, MSD de España SA, AstraZeneca Farmaceutica Spain, Roche Farma SA;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony: Reddy Pharma Iberia SAU. W. Schuette: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Roche, MSD, Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Roche, MSD, Novartis. A. Zer: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, BMS, MSD, Takeda, Pfizer, Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AstraZeneca, Steba, Oncohost;Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: Nixio;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: BMS. S. Comis: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Ose Immunotherapeutics. B. Vasseur: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Ose Immunotherapeutics;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Actions: Ose Immunotherapeutics. R. Dziadziuszko: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Roche, AstraZeneca, Seattle Genetics, Pfizer, Takeda, Regeneron, MSD, Bristol Myers-Squibb, PharmaMar, Bayer;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Boehringer Ingelheim, Foundation Medicine;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony: Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Invited Speaker: Roche, AstraZeneca, MSD, Amgen, Celon Pharma, Pfizer, Novartis, Brsitol Myers-Squibb, Eli Lilly, Loxo;Financial Interests, Invited Speaker: BeiGene, Ardigen, Ose Immunotherapeutics;Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, Subinvestigator and ad hoc Consultant: PDC* line Pharma;Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Product Samples: Novartis, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Roche;Other, Travel: Roche, Bristol Myers-Squibb, AstraZeneca. G. Giaccone: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Novartis;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Karyopharm. B. Besse: Financial Interests, Institutional, Funding: 4D Pharma, AbbVie, Amgen, Aptitude Health, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Cergentis, Cristal Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, Onxeo, Ose Immunotherapeutics, Pfizer, Roche-Genentech, Sanofi, Takeda, Tolero Pharmaceuticals;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Chugai Pharmaceutical, EISAI, Genzyme Corporation, Inivata, Ipsen, Turning Point Therapeutics. E. Felip: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BeiGene, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Glaxo Smith Kline, Janssen, Medical Trends, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Puma, Sanofi, Takeda, Merck Serono, Peptomyc, Regeneron, Syneos Health, F. Hoffmann-La Roche;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Medscape, Merck Sharp & Dome, Peervoice, Pfizer, Springer, Touch Medical, Amgen, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Janssen, Medical Trends, Merck Serono;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Independent member: Grifols;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, Clinical Trial: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, AstraZeneca AB, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Exelixis Inc, Merck KGAA, Janssen Cilag International NV, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co KG, Novartis Farmaceutica SA, Bayer Consumer Care AG, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Pfizer S.L.U., Amgen Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation (BMS), Mirati Therapeutics Inc;Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, President Elect (2021-2023): SEOM (Sociedad Espanola de Oncologia Medica);Non-Financial Interests, Member, Member of ESMO Nominating Committee and Compliance Committee: ESMO;Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Member of Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (2017-Sept 2021): IASLC (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer);Non-Fina cial Interests, Member of Scientific Committee: ETOP (European Thoracic Oncology Platform). All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Mechanisms of primary and secondary resistance to RET inhibitors in patients with RET-positive advanced NSCLC

Background: RET fusions are found in 1-2% of patients (pts) with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). Targeted therapy with RET inhibitors (RETi) significantly improved prognosis. Molecular mechanisms of resistance are still incompletely characterized. Methods: This multicentric retrospective study included 24 centres. Eligible pts had a RET+ aNSCLC, were treated with a RETi and had at least one molecular profile by next-generation sequencing (NGS), performed before and/or after RETi, on tissue and/or plasma samples. Primary resistance under RETi was defined as disease progression (PD) within 6 months of therapy. Results: 95 patients were included with 112 biopsies: 93 at baseline, 19 at PD. 17 patients had paired NGS (baseline and PD). Median age was 65 years (range 56-72);62% were female, 54% were never smokers, 17% had brain metastasis (BM) at diagnosis. 55 patients received pralsetinib, 36 selpercatinib, 4 other RETi. Overall, median PFS under RETi was 17.1 months (95%CI 12.6-28). Primary resistance to RETi occurred in 22 (23%) patients. Primary resistant versus durable responders to RETi had non-adenocarcinoma histology in 9% vs 46% (p=0.61), smoking history in 57% vs 40% (p=0.21), BM in 5% vs 21% (p=0.1), TP53 mutations in 37% vs 22% (p=0.23). KRAS G12V mutation and SMARCA4 alterations were found only in poor responders (4.5% vs 0%, p=0.2;and 25% vs 0%, p=0.04, respectively). Among biopsies at PD (N=19, 13 liquid and 6 tissue biopsies), 7/13 (54%) liquid biopsies failed due to insufficient ctDNA. In 12 evaluable pts, 3 (25%) acquired secondary RET mutations (2 G810S and 1 S904F), 3 (25%) had novel RET rearrangements (2 in intron 11, 1 RET-DOCK1, 1 RET-CSGALNACT2) and 3 (25%) pts had off-target alterations (2 MET and 1 MYC amplification). Three pts (25%) developed novel TP53 mutations, while 3 (25%) had no novel identifiable alterations at PD. Conclusions: SMARCA4 and KRAS co-mutations may have a role in primary resistance to RETi. Secondary RET mutations, novel RET rearrangements and MET/MYC amplifications were identified after treatment with RETi. More than half of pts had insufficient ctDNA at PD, making tissue biopsy essential to identify resistance mechanisms. Legal entity responsible for the study: Institut Gustave Roussy. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: V. Fallet: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AstraZeneca, BMS, Takeda, Roche, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sandoz, Jansen;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: AstraZeneca, BMS, Takeda, Pfizer, MSD;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony: GSK, Boehringer. C. Audigier-Valette: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Ipsen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche. A. Russo: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Pfizer, AstraZeneca, MSD, Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal, Writing Engagements: AstraZeneca, Novartis. A. Calles Blanco: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Takeda, Sanofi;Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Speaker honoraria: Bayer;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Drug-only for Investigator-initiated trial: Merck Sharp & Dohme. P. Iranzo Gomez: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Bristol-Myers Squibb Recipient, F. Hoffmann, La Roche AG, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD Oncology, Rovi, Yowa Kirin, Grunenthal Pharma S.A., Pfizer. M. Tagliamento: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, medical writer: Novartis, Amgen;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, travel/accommodation: Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Takeda. L. Mezquita: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Takeda, AstraZeneca, Roche;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, BMS, AstraZeneca, Takeda;Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant, SEOM Beca Retorno 2019: BI;Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant, ESMO TR Research Fellowship 2019: BMS;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, COVID research Grant: Amgen;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker: Inivata, Stilla. C. Lindsay: Financial Interests, Institutional, Principal Investigator: Roche, Amgen, BI;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: CBPartners, Amgen. S. Ponce: Financial Interests, Institutional, Principal Investigator: Merck Sharp and Dohme, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Foundation Medicine, PharmaMar. Personal fees: Merck Sharp and Dohme, Bristol-Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Foundation Medicine, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Amgen, Celgene.;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Merck Sharp and Dohme, Bristol-Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Foundation Medicine, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Amgen, Celgene.;Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Merck Sharp and Dohme, Bristol-Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche. M. Aldea: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, travel/accommodation: Sandoz. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

PET-derived parameters for response assessment in neoadjuvant atezolizumab: A secondary analysis of PRINCEPS phase II trial

Background: Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) is moving from metastatic to curative setting in different diseases including NSCLC. While for metastatic disease radiological endpoints are currently the standard surrogate marker of benefit from ICBs, based on RECIST or PERCIST criteria, in neoadjuvant setting they often underestimate the response and then pathological response (PR) criteria were developed to evaluate Major PR (MPR), defined as ≤10% viable tumor cells after neoadjuvant treatment, and PR, defined as less than 50% residual tumor cells. Anyway, a non-invasive approach to determine the response to treatment is still an unmet need. Methods: PRINCEPS was a phase 2 clinical trial including limited-stage (IB-IIIA) NSCLC patients who received one administration of atezolizumab before surgery. 18-F FDG PET was performed within 28 days and after 15-22 days from atezolizumab. Surgery was performed at day 22-29 from atezolizumab. PET derived parameters including MTV and TLG was extracted by experienced nuclear physicians. Results: 30 patients were enrolled, all received A and underwent surgical resection after a median of 23 days. MPR was identified in 4, pPR in 8 tumors. Paired PET were available for 28 pts. Mean time from A to PET was 18 days (IQR 3.5). Total TLG and MTV reduction was not correlated with percentage of pPR (p=0.117 and p=0.843, respectively). Reduction of MTV (Pearson correlation 0.509, p=0.006) and TLG (Pearson correlation 0.562, p=0.002) in the primary tumor were strongly correlated with pPR, while no correlation was observed between percentage of pPR and variation in tumor diameters by RECIST criteria (-0.24, p=0.2) nor metabolic response (-0.12, p=0.55). The appearance of metabolically active hilar and mediastinal, non-pathological lymph nodes (LN) was noted in 12/28 patients, and specifically in. 2 out of 4 MPR and 5 out of 8 pPR. A trend toward an higher pPR was observed with LN appearance (mean 52% reduction in pts with LN appearance vs 29% without, p 0.061), probably reflecting immune activation. LN appearance was associated with hyperplasia and histiocytosis in resected, non-metastatic LNs. Conclusions: PET is able to early detect tumor response in localized NSCLC patients treated with ICBs in neoadjuvant setting. Clinical trial identification: NCT02994576. Legal entity responsible for the study: Institut Gustave Roussy. Funding: Roche. Disclosure: N. Chaput-Gras: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Strong-Iopredi Scientific Advisory Board: AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, Educational Session On Immune Cell Death: Servier;Financial Interests, Institutional, Expert Testimony, Expertise On Immune Cell Death Biomarkers: Servier;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Cytune Pharma;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Research grant to identify immune biomarkers associated to clinical response in patients treated with agonistic mAbs: GSK;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Preclinical studies in mice: GSK;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Immune profiling of Head & Neck tumors: Sanofi. D. Planchard: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AstraZeneca, BMS, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung, Celgene, AbbVie, Daiichi Sankyo, Janssen;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: AstraZeneca, Novartis, Pfizer, priME Oncology, Peer CME, Samsung, AbbVie, Janssen;Non-Financial Interests, Principal Investigator, Institutional financial interests: AstraZeneca, BMS, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Daiichi Sankyo, Sanofi-Aventis, Pierre Fabre;Non-Financial Interests, Principal Investigator: AbbVie, Sanofi, Janssen. L. Mezquita: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Takeda, AstraZeneca, Roche;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, BMS, AstraZeneca, Takeda;Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant, SEOM Beca Retorno 2019: BI;Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant, ESMO TR Research Fellowship 2019: BMS;Financial Interests, Institutional, Resea ch Grant, COVID research Grant: Amgen;Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker: Inivata, Stilla. J. Remon Masip: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, Pfizer, MSD, Boehringer-Ingelheim;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AstraZeneca, BMS, Janssen, Takeda, Sanofi;Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony: Ose Immunotherapeutics;Non-Financial Interests, Principal Investigator, PI of PECATI trial in Thymic malignancies endorsed by a grant by MSD: MSD;Non-Financial Interests, Other, Co-PI of APPLE trial (EORTC-1525): AstraZeneca. F. Barlesi: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly Oncology, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd, Novartis, Merck, Mirati, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Seattle Genetics, Takeda;Non-Financial Interests, Principal Investigator: AstraZeneca, BMS, Merck, Pierre Fabre, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. B. Besse: Financial Interests, Institutional, Funding: 4D Pharma, AbbVie, Amgen, Aptitude Health, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Cergentis, Cristal Therapeutics, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, Onxeo, OSE Immunotherapeutics, Pfizer, Roche-Genentech, Sanofi, Takeda, Tolero Pharmaceuticals;Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Chugai Pharmaceutical, Eisai, Genzyme Corporation, Inivata, Ipsen, Turning Point Therapeutics. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Pre-existing and post-covid-19 immune responses to sars-cov-2 in cancer patients

Cancer patients are at increased risk for critical illness upon COVID-19. We assessed antibody and T cell responses in unexposed and SARS-CoV-2 convalescent cancer patients to characterize SARS-CoV-2 immunity and to identify immunological parameters contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 cancer patients. Immune responses were assessed in unexposed (n = 199) and SARS-CoV-2-infected cancer patients (n = 17), comprising different hematological malignancies (HM) and solid tumor entities. T cell responses were assessed by IFN-g ELISPOT using previously defined cross-reactive and SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell epitopes (Nelde et al., Nat Immunol 2021). SARS-CoV-2 convalescents without cancer (n = 193) and unexposed healthy volunteers (HV, n = 94) served as reference groups. Whereas pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ T cell responses were detectable in a high proportion of HV (78%) and solid tumor patients (77%), frequency was substantially lower in unexposed HM patients (34%). Concordantly, HM patients showed significantly higher proportions of CD4+ T cells expressing PD-1, LAG-3 and TIM-3, indicating T cell exhaustion as a potential underlying cause for the reduced T cell reactivity. In SARS-CoV-2 convalescents, no difference in antibody positivity was noted between cancer patients and HV. T cell response analyses showed comparable recognition frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific HLA class I and HLA-DR epitopes in both groups, whereas the frequency of HLA-DR cross-reactive T cell responses was significantly reduced in cancer patients. Again, this was attributable to a markedly reduced frequency of cross-reactive CD4+ T cell responses in HM patients. Analysis of T cell responses to single HLA-DR peptides (n = 20) after 12-day in vitro expansion further revealed reduced T cell expandability for 73% of SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides in COVID-19 cancer patients. Moreover, diversity of SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses (i.e. recognition of multiple different T cell epitopes) was significantly reduced in COVID-19 HM patients (20% recognized peptides) compared to solid tumor patients (35%) and HV (50%), and reduced T cell diversity was associated with a more severe course of COVID-19. In summary, our results identify impaired SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity as a determinant for poor outcome of COVID-19 in cancer patients, particularly in HM. These findings guide the development of therapeutic measures and vaccines for this vulnerable patient population. Disclosure: Malte Roerden: No conflict of interest disclosed. Juliane S. Walz: Honoraria: Juliane S. Walz is listed as inventor for patents on peptides described in the research.;Expert Testimony: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Wilhelm Sander Stiftung, José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung, Fortüne-Programm der Universität Tübingen.

Venetoclax, Obinutuzumab and Atezolizumab (PD-L1 Checkpoint Inhibitor) for First-Line Treatment for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Background: Dysfunction of T cells, NK cells and other immune subsets is common in patients (pts) with CLL. Venetoclax (VEN), a BCL-2 inhibitor and obinutuzumab (OBIN), a CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) are approved for pts with CLL (Fischer, NEJM 2019). Atezolizumab, a PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor (CPI), is approved for melanoma, lung cancer and other solid tumors. Preclinical studies showed synergy of VEN and CD20 mAb with CPI (Kohlhapp, Cancer Discovery 2021;Westin, Lancet Oncology 2014). Clinical studies showed activity of PD1 inhibition in pts with Richter's transformation, but not CLL (Ding, Blood 2017;Jain, ASH 2018). To our knowledge, no prior study has evaluated PD-L1 inhibition in pts with CLL, nor combined CPI, VEN and OBIN. We hypothesized that combined VEN, OBIN and atezolizumab will be synergistic. Methods: This is an investigator-initiated Phase II trial of combined VEN, OBIN and atezolizumab in pts with previously untreated CLL meeting 2008 IWCLL treatment criteria (NCT02846623). Eligibility criteria included age ≥18 years, adequate organ function (total bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN, ALT and AST ≤2.5 x ULN, creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN). OBIN was given at a flat dose of 100mg IV Cycle (C)1 Day (D)1, 900 mg C1D2, 1000mg on C1D8, 1000mg on C1D15 and then 1000mg on C2-9 D1. Atezolizumab was given at a flat dose of 1680 mg IV (split over 2 days) on C1D3-4 and then C2-9D1-2. VEN was initiated at the start of C3 with the weekly dose-escalation (20mg daily to a target dose of 400mg daily) and continued daily until end of C14 (total 12 cycles of VEN). All pts stopped therapy at the end of C14. Response assessments were done with CT imaging and bone marrow aspirate/biopsy with MRD assessment (multi-color flow cytometry;sensitivity 10 -4) at the end of C2 (prior to VEN initiation), end of C6, end of C9, and end of C14. Results: From July 2019 to December 2020, a total of 26 pts were enrolled. The median age was 60 years (range, 21-74). The baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1. A total of 19/26 (73%) had unmutated IGHV gene. Though the study did not restrict pts with del(17p) or mutated TP53, no pt in the current cohort had del(17p)/ mutated TP53. A total of 14 (54%) pts had a baseline lymph node >5cm. The median follow-up is 13.3 months. One pt came off study in C1 (details below). A total of 25 pts initiated VEN. The TLS risk categories at the start of C1 were high (n=9, 36%), medium (n=12, 48%), and low (n=4, 16%). After 2 cycles of OBIN and atezolizumab (prior to VEN initiation), the majority of pts had downgrading of TLS risk category [high (n=2, 8%), medium (n=3, 12%), and low (n=20, 80%)]. After C6 (about 3 cycles of VEN 400mg daily), bone marrow undetectable (U)-MRD rate was 19/25 (76%);4/25 (16%) had low+ MRD and 2/25 (8%) had high+ MRD. After C9 (about 6 cycles of VEN 400mg daily), among the 21 pts (4 pts have not reached this time-point), the bone marrow U-MRD rate was 18/21 (86%);2/21 (10%) had low+ MRD and 1/21 (5%) had high+ MRD. A total of 14 pts completed C14 (9 pts have not reached this time-point;2 pts came off study prior to completing C14, details below);13/14 (93%) achieved bone marrow U-MRD and 1/14 (7%) has low+ MRD. No patient had disease progression or MRD relapse so far. One pt died (details below). Three pts came off study (one developed retroperitoneal hematoma after receiving enoxaparin for DVT in C1;one developed CPI-induced colitis and removed from the study in C10;one died from COVID-19 pneumonia in C14 while in bone marrow U-MRD remission). Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 14/26 (54%) pts. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia occurred in 5/26 (19%) pts;no pt had G4 thrombocytopenia. A total of 4 pts developed CPI-induced toxicities (colitis, G3, n=1;mucositis, G3, n=1;nephritis, G2, n=1;myositis, G2, n=1). A total of 10/25 (40%) pts had dose reduction of VEN, the majority due to neutropenia. Atezolizumab was discontinued early in 3 pts due to CPI-induced toxicities. Laboratory correlative studies including scRNAseq and CyTOF are ongoing. Conclusions: Treatment with combined VE , OBIN and atezolizumab leads to high rate of early U-MRD remission with 76% bone marrow U-MRD remission at the end of C6 (about 3 cycles of VEN 400mg daily). Four pts had CPI-induced toxicities. The enrollment in this trial continues and updated data and correlative studies will be presented at the ASH meeting. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Jain: Pfizer: Research Funding;Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria, Research Funding;Aprea Therapeutics: Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding;Servier: Honoraria, Research Funding;Incyte: Research Funding;Pharmacyclics: Research Funding;Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;TG Therapeutics: Honoraria;Janssen: Honoraria;Beigene: Honoraria;Fate Therapeutics: Research Funding;Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Research Funding;Cellectis: Honoraria, Research Funding;ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding. Ferrajoli: Janssen: Other: Advisory Board;AstraZeneca: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding;BeiGene: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Yilmaz: Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;Pfizer: Research Funding. Thompson: AbbVie: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding;Gilead: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria;Pharmacyclics: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding;Adaptive Biotechnologies: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding, Expert Testimony;Genentech: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding;Amgen: Other: Institution: Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding. Konopleva: Novartis: Other: research funding pending, Patents & Royalties: intellectual property rights;Reata Pharmaceuticals: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Patents & Royalties: intellectual property rights;Eli Lilly: Patents & Royalties: intellectual property rights, Research Funding;KisoJi: Research Funding;Stemline Therapeutics: Research Funding;Sanofi: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Other: grant support, Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Cellectis: Other: grant support;F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: grant support;Calithera: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Ascentage: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Ablynx: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: grant support, Research Funding;Forty Seven: Other: grant support, Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Grant Support, Research Funding;Agios: Other: grant support, Research Funding. Neelapu: Takeda Pharmaceuticals and related to cell therapy: Patents & Royalties;Kite, a Gilead Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Poseida, Cellectis, Celgene, Karus Therapeutics, Unum Therapeutics (Cogent Biosciences), Allogene, Precision BioSciences, Acerta and Adicet Bio: Research Funding;Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene, Kuur, Incyte, Precision BioSciences, Legend, Adicet Bio, Calibr, and Unum Therapeutics: Other: personal fees;Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene Therapeutics, Cell Medica/Kuur, Incyte, Precision Biosciences, Legend Biotech, Adicet Bio, Calibr, Unum Therapeutics and Bluebird Bio: Honoraria. Takahashi: Symbio Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene/BMS: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;GSK: Consultancy. Burger: TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Beigene: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Speakers Bureau;Pharmacyclics LLC: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Rese rch Funding, Speakers Bureau;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Speakers Bureau. Khoury: Stemline Therapeutics: Research Funding;Kiromic: Research Funding;Angle: Research Funding. Kantarjian: Jazz: Research Funding;NOVA Research: Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria;Immunogen: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;Ascentage: Research Funding. Wierda: Karyopharm: Research Funding;Miragen: Research Funding;Acerta Pharma Inc.: Research Funding;Cyclacel: Research Funding;Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding;Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding;Sunesis: Research Funding;Juno Therapeutics: Research Funding;Gilead Sciences: Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;Loxo Oncology, Inc.: Research Funding;Janssen: Research Funding;Xencor: Research Funding;GSK/Novartis: Research Funding;KITE Pharma: Research Funding;Genzyme Corporation: Consultancy;AbbVie: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Atezolizumab is not approved for CLL

Combined Ibrutinib and Venetoclax for First-Line Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Focus on Long-Term MRD Results

Background: Ibrutinib (IBR) and venetoclax (VEN) combination is a highly effective therapy for patients (pts) with CLL (Jain, NEJM 2019;Wierda, ASH 2020;Kater, EHA 2021). We previously reported results of the first-line cohort of a phase II trial of combined IBR and VEN for high-risk pts with CLL (Jain, NEJM 2019;Jain, JAMA Oncology 2021). Here we report updated data for these pts with focus on MRD. Methods: Pts with previously untreated CLL meeting IWCLL treatment criteria were enrolled. All pts had at least one high-risk feature: del(17p), mutated TP53, del(11q), unmutated IGHV, or age ≥65 years (yrs). Pts received IBR 420 mg daily for 3 cycles followed by addition of VEN (weekly dose-escalation to 400mg daily). Combined therapy was given for 24 cycles (28 days/cycle). Pts with bone marrow (BM) undetectable MRD (U-MRD) (flow cytometry;sensitivity 10 -4) at 24 cycles of combined therapy discontinued both VEN and IBR;MRD+ pts continued IBR. A trial amendment allowed an additional 12 cycles of combined VEN and ibrutinib for pts who remained BM MRD+ after Cycle 24. Response assessments were performed using BM and CT imaging studies (2008 IWCLL criteria). U-MRD was defined as <0.01%;low MRD+ 0.01% to <1%;high MRD+ ≥1%. Progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed as the time from the start of study drug to CLL progression, Richter transformation, or death from any cause. Blood MRD was monitored every 6 months in pts off treatment or on ibrutinib monotherapy beyond 24 cycles of combined treatment. Results: A total of 80 pts were enrolled. Baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1. The median follow-up was 44.1 months. Five pts came off study during 1 st 3 cycles of IBR monotherapy;75 pts initiated VEN. We previously reported that after 12 cycles of the combination, 45/80 (56%) achieved BM U-MRD remission;24/80 (30%) were BM MRD-positive (low MRD+, n=19;high MRD+, n=5). After 24 cycles of the combination, 53/80 (66%) achieved BM U-MRD remission;14/80 (17%) were BM MRD+ (low MRD+, n=13;high MRD+, n=1). Overall, 60/80 (75%) achieved BM U-MRD as the best response. Updated PFS is provided in Figure 1. Of the 53 pts who were BM U-MRD at the end of cycle 24 of the combination, 52 pts had a subsequent blood MRD assessment done in follow-up (1 missed due to COVID-19);51/53 discontinued all therapy, 2 pts continued IBR per treatment physician discretion. With a median time of 18.4 months post Cycle 24, 8 pts had recurrence of blood MRD (defined as MRD ≥ 0.01% in 2 consecutive visits) in follow-up with 1 pt with CLL progression. The sole pt with CLL progression had mutated IGHV with del(11q) and NOTCH1 mutation. The pt had delayed achievement of BM U-MRD with the pt achieving U-MRD for the first time at the end of Cycle 24 of combined therapy. She was noted to have disease progression 22 months off therapy;BTK or PLCG2 mutation were not detected and the patient is currently in clinical remission on acalabrutinib. The time to MRD conversion for these 53 pts is shown in Figure 2. There were 14 pts who were BM MRD+ at the end of cycle 24 of the combination (low MRD+, n=13;high MRD+, n=1). The only pt with high-MRD+ at end of cycle 24 was noted to have Richter transformation at that time. The remaining 13 pts (all low MRD+ in BM, range 0.01-0.56%) continued IBR monotherapy. With a recent trial amendment, MRD+ pts after Cycle 24 could get 12 additional cycles of venetoclax;9/13 pts have resumed VEN. 6/9 pts have achieved U-MRD remission. 2 pts had Richter transformation and 3 pts have died (Jain, JAMA Oncology 2021). Conclusions: We report long term follow-up of combined IBR and VEN in first-line CLL. Remissions were durable with some pts having recurrence of blood MRD in follow-up, which may be an early indicator of relapse. In a small subset of the pts with BM MRD+ disease at 24 cycles of combined therapy, additional VEN appears to lead to U-MRD remission in majority of the pts. Whether this will lead to improved long-term PFS remains to be determined. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Jain: TG Therapeutics: Honoraria;Beigene: Honoraria;Janssen: Honoraria;Fate Therapeutics: Research Funding;Aprea Therapeutics: Research Funding;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria, Research Funding;Incyte: Research Funding;Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Research Funding;Cellectis: Honoraria, Research Funding;ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding;Servier: Honoraria, Research Funding;Pfizer: Research Funding;Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding;Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Thompson: AbbVie: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding;Amgen: Other: Institution: Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding;Genentech: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding;Adaptive Biotechnologies: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding, Expert Testimony;Pharmacyclics: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Grant/Funding;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria;Gilead: Other: Institution: Advisory/Consultancy, Honoraria. Ferrajoli: BeiGene: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding;Janssen: Other: Advisory Board;AstraZeneca: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Burger: Novartis: Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Speakers Bureau;TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Speakers Bureau;Beigene: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Pharmacyclics LLC: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;AstraZeneca: Consultancy. Borthakur: GSK: Consultancy;ArgenX: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Current Employment;Protagonist: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Astex: Research Funding;Ryvu: Research Funding;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Takahashi: Symbio Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy;Celgene/BMS: Consultancy;GSK: Consultancy. Sasaki: Daiichi-Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kadia: Cellonkos: Other;Aglos: Consultancy;Dalichi Sankyo: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Grant/research support;BMS: Other: Grant/research support;Amgen: Other: Grant/research support;Cure: Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Consultancy;Genentech: Consultancy, Other: Grant/research support;Liberum: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy, Other;Pulmotech: Other;Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy;AstraZeneca: Other;Astellas: Other;Genfleet: Other;Ascentage: Other. Konopleva: Sanofi: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Cellectis: Other: grant support;Calithera: Other: grant support, Research Funding;KisoJi: Research Funding;Agios: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Ascentage: Other: grant support, Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Grant Support, Research Funding;Ablynx: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Stemline Therapeutics: Research Funding;Eli Lilly: Patents & Royalties: intellectual property rights, Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: grant support, Research Funding;F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: grant support;Forty Seven: Other: grant support, Research Funding;Novartis: Other: research funding pending, Patents & Royalties: intellectual property rights;Reata Pharmaceuticals: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Patents & Royalties: intellectual property rights. Alvarado: BerGenBio: Research Funding;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Sun Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding;MEI Pharma: Research Funding;FibroGen: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;CytomX Therapeutics: Consultancy. Yilmaz: Pfizer: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding. DiNardo: Notable Labs: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Honoraria;Takeda: Honoraria;Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company: Honoraria, Research Funding;Forma: Honoraria, Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding;GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding;ImmuneOnc: Honoraria, Research Funding;Agios/Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Foghorn: Honoraria, Research Funding. Bose: Kartos Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding;Sierra Oncology: Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria;Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;NS Pharma: Research Funding;Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding;Blueprint Medicines: Honoraria, Research Funding;Pfizer: Research Funding;Promedior: Research Funding;Astellas: Research Funding;Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding;BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding;CTI BioPharma: Honoraria, Research Funding. Pemmaraju: Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy;LFB Biotechnologies: Consultancy;Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: Research Support, Research Funding;ASCO Leukemia Advisory Panel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Dan's House of Hope: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisorycommittees;Roche Diagnostics: Consultancy;MustangBio: Consultancy, Other;Affymetrix: Consultancy, Research Funding;Samus: Other, Research Funding;ImmunoGen, Inc: Consultancy;ASH Communications Committee: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Aptitude Health: Consultancy;Plexxicon: Other, Research Funding;Springer Science + Business Media: Other;Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy;HemOnc Times/Oncology Times: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Clearview Healthcare Partners: Consultancy;Abbvie Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding;CareDx, Inc.: Consultancy;Sager Strong Foundation: Other;Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.: Other, Research Funding;Incyte: Consultancy;Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding;Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.: Consultancy;DAVA Oncology: Consultancy;Pacylex Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy;Celgene Corporation: Consultancy;Cellectis S.A. ADR: Other, Research Funding. Jabbour: Amgen, AbbVie, Spectrum, BMS, Takeda, Pfizer, Adaptive, Genentech: Research Funding. Wang: Stemline Therapeutics: Honoraria. Kantarjian: Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Immunogen: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;NOVA Research: Honoraria;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;Ascentage: Research Funding. Wierda: Juno Therapeutics: Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Research Funding;Xencor: Research Funding;Janssen: Research Funding;Loxo Oncology, Inc.: Research Funding;Cyclacel: Research Funding;Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding;Miragen: Research Funding;KITE Pharma: Research Funding;Sunesis: Research Funding;Gilead Sciences: Research Funding;Acerta Pharma Inc.: Rese rch Funding;Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding;Karyopharm: Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;GSK/Novartis: Research Funding;Genzyme Corporation: Consultancy;AbbVie: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: The combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax is not FDA approved