ABSTRACT
To manage the complexities of treating acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) during the COVID pandemic, NICE have recommended the use of venetoclax and azacitadine as first-line treatment in patients with in patients would otherwise be eligible for standard intensive induction chemotherapy, with the hope that this will reduce inpatient stay, and reduce the risk of neutropenia . This combination has been shown to have favourable outcomes in high-risk patients which is defined as;the elderly, those with unfavourable cytogenetics and secondary AML. Here were discuss the 11 patients diagnosed with AML in the two-year period between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 at Northwick Park Hospital, London, that were eligible to initiate azacitadine and venetoclax as first-line therapy, and evaluate how these new treatment recommendations have affected patient outcomes. One patient was removed due to insufficient written records, leaving a total of 10 patients;seven male, and three female with an average age of 78.2 years, at the time of diagnosis. All but one had secondary AML. Fifty per cent of cases were secondary to MDS, two secondary to CML, one to polycythaemia and one with CML/MDS overlap. Four (36%) received only one cycle of treatment. Ninety per cent of patients had treatment complications, with seven (70%) having cytopenia, three (30%) having cardiovascular complications and nine (90%) having infection related complications. Other serious complications included, transient ischaemic attack and pyoderma gangrenosum. Each patient had an average of 2.3 admissions with one patient having six hospital admissions since initiating treatment. The average length of hospital admission is 11.65 days per visit. Prolonged and frequent hospital admissions during critical times of the pandemic, counteract the intention of wanting to use these oral treatment agents to minimise their exposure to infections. Six (60%) obtained complete morphological remission after the first cycle of treatment. The maximum number of cycles received is 15 and counting. Three (30%) of patients only tolerated one cycle of treatment due to prolonged neutropenia, and/or infective complications. Although all patient developed neutropenia during, and after the completion of the first cycle of treatment, the 40% that are still alive, did not develop concurrent thrombocytopenia after cycle 1 of treatment. Sixty per cent of the patients have died since initiating treatment, making an average of 19.95 weeks from the initiation of treatment to death. Fifty per cent of these patients died from sepsis related causes. The remainder, had unclearly documented cause of death. While being mindful of the small sample size, these realworld data show that although most patients will achieve a good response to the combination of azacytidine and venetoclax after the first cycle, cytopenias, and in particular neutropenia, remains a difficult challenge to tackle leading to recurrent and prolonged hospital admissions, treatment delays and discontinuation of therapy. Although this treatment combination remains a safer option during the pandemic compared to intensive chemotherapy, the data compel us to reflect on the intentions of treatment, and encourage us to have more transparent conversations with patients about the likelihood of recurrent hospital admissions at a time where hospitals are deemed more dangerous than self-isolating, and the possibility of contracting an infection stronger than their body's ability to cope.
ABSTRACT
Background: Venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents is a new standard of care for newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 75 years or older, or unfit for intensive chemotherapy. As precision therapy in AML expanded with the addition of venetoclax among others in the therapeutic armamentarium of AML, efficacy and safety reports in ethnic minorities are limited, with a background of well recognized inter-ethnic differences in drug response. Phase III data from VIALE-A, as well as VIALE-C, was limited for the Arab population as no site opened in the Arab world. We herein report our experience on the use of venetoclax with azacitidine in patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory AML in the Arab population. Methods: Retrospective-single center review on the use of Azacitidine with venetoclax in older patients (aged ≥60 years) with newly diagnosed AML, not eligible for intensive chemotherapy;secondary AML and relapsed or refractory AML. All patients self-identified of Arabic ethnicity. Patients who received previous BCL2-inhibitor therapy were excluded. Patients who received at least one dose of treatment (Azacitidine ≥3 days, >14 days of venetoclax) were included in the intention to treat analysis. Patients typically received azacitidine 75 mg/m2 intravenously for 7 days with oral venetoclax 400 mg daily for induction, with appropriate dose adjustment for concomitant use of azoles. This is followed by the same regimen in consolidation, with adjustment according to response and side effects at the treating physician's discretion. The primary endpoint was overall survival. The secondary endpoints include response rate, safety, and relapse-free survival. Results: Between July 2019, and July 2021, we identified 19 patients;13 (68%) had newly diagnosed AML (ND-AML), and 6 (32%) had relapsed or refractory AML (R/R AML). The median age was 70 years (17-82). In the ND-AML, most patients had an adverse ELN 2017 AML (69%) with 23% having either intermediate or adverse AML (Negative for CBF, NPM1, FLT3-ITD and biCEBPA, but missing NGS data for adverse mutations Tp53/ASXL1 and RUNX1). Only one patient was classified as intermediate-risk AML. The overall response rate in the ND-AML was 77%, with 46% achieving complete remission (CR), and 23% CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi) [Table]. One patient achieved PR after the first cycle (blast 7% by morphology and 1.5% by flow cytometry) and did not have a subsequent bone marrow evaluation, however had a full count recovery. Among the responders in the ND-AML cohort, 4 deaths were noted. One death was related to COVID-19 associated pneumonia, one due to graft failure (at day 42 post Haplo-SCT), one due to septic shock, and one was related to relapse disease. The overall survival and relapse-free survival for ND-AML were 5.6 months for both [Figure]. In the R/R AML, 66% had prior HMA exposure, and all patients did receive high-intensity chemotherapy. The median number of prior treatments was 3 (1-5). the response rate was 80% (4/5), with 60% achieving CR. All patients are still alive with a median follow-up of 7.6 months. One patient had progressive disease. One patient is early to evaluate and was not included in the response analysis [Table]. The 30-day mortality was zero in both ND-AML and R/R AML cohorts. Conclusions: In a majority of adverse risk ND-AML, and in heavily pretreated R/R AML, the response rate and overall survival is comparable to what has been previously reported. Our data support the use of this regimen in older patients with newly diagnosed AML, patients with relapsed or refractory disease, and those with adverse-risk features. This analysis is limited by the small number of patients, and by the lack of ELN 2017 favorable-risk AML. Future prospective and randomized studies are needed to clarify activity and safety in the Arab population, as well as in the high-risk AML subset. [Formula presented] Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic hit the United Kingdom in early 2020. High infection rates prompted concern for immunocompromised patients, including patients with AML receiving intensive chemotherapy. CPX-351 (Europe: Vyxeos ® Liposomal;US: Vyxeos ®), a dual-drug liposomal encapsulation of daunorubicin and cytarabine in a synergistic 1:5 molar ratio, is approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed therapy-related AML (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) in adults in Europe and in adults and pediatric patients aged ≥1 year in the United States. Despite concerns about intensive chemotherapy-related myelosuppression, the National Cancer Research Institute AML Working Group recommends that CPX-351 should continue to be administered in patients with adverse-risk cytogenetics and/or secondary AML during the pandemic. We report 2 patients with AML who were successfully treated with CPX-351 in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The patients were diagnosed and managed per institutional guidelines. Two patients received CPX-351 induction (daunorubicin 44 mg/m 2 + cytarabine 100 mg/m 2) on Days 1, 3, and 5 (Days 1 and 3 for second induction) and CPX-351 consolidation (daunorubicin 29 mg/m 2 + cytarabine 65 mg/m 2) on Days 1 and 3, all by 90-minute IV infusion, during the pandemic. Results: The first patient was a 67-year-old male who presented with generalized fatigue in June 2020 with comorbidities of type 2 diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, and leg ulcers. Blood counts demonstrated a hemoglobin count of 79 g/L, white blood cell count of 0.7×10 9, platelet count of 58×10 9/L, and neutrophil count of 0.2×10 9/L. A bone marrow biopsy revealed AML-MRC with 40% blasts, and the patient had wild-type FLT3, NPM1, and SRSF2. The patient achieved morphologic and cytogenetic remission after 2 CPX-351 induction cycles. The patient then received 1 CPX-351 consolidation cycle but was not a candidate for transplant due to diabetic nephropathy. Tolerability improved with each cycle;the patient experienced neutropenic sepsis during the first induction, a flare up of leg ulcers and cellulitis during the second induction, and no tolerability concerns during the consolidation cycle. After the first induction, recovery of neutrophils and platelets occurred around Day 35 and Day 28, respectively (Figure 1), and counts recovered more quickly with each cycle. This patient was managed without contracting COVID-19 or experiencing any pandemic-related complications. The second patient was a 69-year-old female who presented with pancytopenia in February 2020 with no significant past medical or drug history. Her hemoglobin count was 66 g/L, white blood cell count was 0.6×10 9/L, platelet count was 17×10 9/L, and neutrophil count was 0.3×10 9/L. The patient was diagnosed with AML-MRC with mutated NPM1, SRSF2, IDH2, and JA2. During the first CPX-351 induction cycle, the patient contracted COVID-19. Some symptoms were present, but the patient did not become significantly unwell from COVID-19. Despite count recovery, the patient remained positive by nasal/oral PCR swab test for several weeks, delaying the delivery of the second CPX-351 induction cycle. After the second CPX-351 cycle began, the patient once again became positive for COVID-19 by PCR swab. The patient remained positive for longer than the first infection but was largely asymptomatic during the cycle (apart from a bout of sepsis). After a period of approximately 3 months from the previous CPX-351 cycle, the patient received a CPX-351 consolidation cycle and achieved complete remission with no measurable residual disease by NPM1 mutation in the bone marrow (Figure 2). The patient was eligible for transplant but declined. Conclusions: Two patients with AML-MRC were successfully treated with CPX-351 during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite one of the patients contracting and variably testing positive for the disease. During the pandemic, it is important to weigh the benefits of treating AML with curative intent versus the risks of immuno uppression and potential COVID-19 infection. Individualized decisions must be made for each patient based on disease, treatment, and COVID-19 risk factors through discussion with a multidisciplinary team. Although treating patients with AML with CPX-351 during the pandemic can be challenging, it remains an option for appropriate patients with newly diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Munisamy: Roche: Speakers Bureau;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Speakers Bureau. Choudhuri: AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer: Consultancy.
ABSTRACT
The impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on outcomes in patients with cancer remains unclear. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)/high-risk myelodysplasia (MDS) are common hematological malignancies resulting in profound immunosuppression, which is exacerbated by intensive and less-intensive chemotherapy. Importantly, venetoclax based regimens have been increasingly used during the pandemic as a strategy to reduce patient hospitalization however, there is little information concerning the impact of such regimens on COVID-19 infection rates. We therefore opened a prospective clinical study (PACE), at the start of the current pandemic in April 2020 to characterize the risk of COVID-19 infection in patients with AML/MDS-EB2 receiving intensive or non-intensive treatment, including patients treated with venetoclax-based regimens. The primary aim was to determine the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with AML /MDS-EB2 including both, prior to study entry and during treatment until 4 weeks after the last cycle of treatment. Secondary aims were to: characterize the presentation of COVID-19;define the severity and type of both non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 infections;and undertake an exploratory analysis to quantify the incidence of COVID-19 infection in patients receiving (less-intensive) venetoclax based regimens. All analysis conducted to date has been descriptive. 211/230 recruited patients had full treatment histories available, of whom 116 patients received intensive chemotherapy and 95 low intensity regimens. 48 patients received a venetoclax-based regimen. The median age of the non-intensive treatment arm was 72 years;(range 19.1-86.5) and of the intensive arm was 59 years (range 16.1-76.1). There were more cases of secondary AML and relapsed disease in the non-intensive arm as compared to the intensive arm. 25/226 evaluable patients tested positive for COVID-19 as defined by positive SARS-CoV2 PCR test, 10 with a prior diagnosis at study entry and 15 tested positive during the study. The incidence of COVID-19 infection for patients with AML/MDS-EB2 was 11.1% (90%CI: 7.8%-15.1%) (Table). A lower proportion of patients (n=6/91 6.6%) undergoing non-intensive treatment suffered COVID-19 as compared to those undergoing more intensive chemotherapy regimens (n=19/116, 16.4%). Specifically, only 3/48 (6.3%) patients undergoing a venetoclax regimen were infected with SARS-CoV2. The most common presenting symptoms of COVID-19 in this study, regardless of the intensity of chemotherapy, was fever and cough with 6/25 patients asymptomatic. The risk of death at 30 days following study entry in patients who had prior COVID-19 infection or who contracted COVID-19 during this period was 13.6%, compared to 3.9% in the overall cohort without COVID-19 infection. There was a lower incidence of non-COVID-19 related infections in patients receiving venetoclax-based regimens, n=43 infections in 24 (50.0%) of patients;with 313 infections in 94 (81%) of intensively treated patients. The overall occurrence of non-COVID-19 infection in the non-intensive arm was 87 infections in 50 (54.9%) patients. Our multi-center study provides real-world estimates for the incidence and presentation of COVID-19 infection in a cohort of patients with AML/MDS-EB2, and indicates a higher risk of death at 30 days in patients with prior COVID-19 infection prior to, or during treatment. Venetoclax based, and other non-intensive, regimens, increasingly implemented during the pandemic, to minimize patient exposure and reduce usage of hospital beds, appeared to be associated with a low incidence of COVID-19. Further follow-up will be required to understand the long-term impact of this strategy. Analysis of immune responses to COVID-19 infection and vaccination is on-going. Acknowledgments: This study was funded by Cure Leukaemia under the Trials Acceleration Program (TAP), and grants from BMS and Blood Cancer UK. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Loke: Novartis: Other: Travel;Janssen: Honoraria;Amgen: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria;Daichi Sankyo: Other: Travel. K apper: Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Astellas: Ended employment in the past 24 months, Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Khan: Abbvie: Honoraria;Astellas: Honoraria;Takeda: Honoraria;Jazz: Honoraria;Gilead: Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria. Dillon: Amgen: Other: Research support (paid to institution);Astellas: Consultancy, Other: Educational Events, Speakers Bureau;Menarini: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Session chair (paid to institution), Speakers Bureau;Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: educational events;Jazz: Other: Education events;Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research Support, Educational Events;Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Culligan: AbbVie Ltd: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Celgene Ltd: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Jazz Pharma: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Takeda UK Ltd: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. McMullin: Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: clinical trial support, Research Funding;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;AOP Orphan: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Murthy: Abbvie: Other: support to attend educational conferences. Craddock: Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board;Celgene/BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
ABSTRACT
Background: Among patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) over the age of 60, a considerable number are not considered suitable for intensive remission-induction chemotherapy. Survival in these patients is poor, whether they are treated using hypomethylating agents or low-dose ara-C (LDAC). The possibility of combination therapy with additional agents represents an attractive option. Arginine metabolism plays a key role in AML pathogenesis (Mussai et al. Blood 2013);BCT-100 is a pegylated recombinant human arginase that leads to a rapid depletion in extracellular and intracellular arginine concentrations resulting in G0/G1 arrest, and subsequent death by necrosis. BCT-100 demonstrates significant activity as single-agent against AML cell lines, AML xenografts and primary AML blasts from newly diagnosed or relapsed patients (Mussai et al. Blood 2015). Importantly BCT-100 is synergistic in combination with cytarabine. Aims: To assess the efficacy of LDAC+BCT100 versus LDAC alone in patients aged 60+ unsuitable for intensive therapy, in a “pick a winner” design. This design allows several treatments to be assessed simultaneously in a randomised fashion, with the aim of doubling 2-year survival from 11% to 22% (HR 0.69), with interim assessments after 50 and 100 patients per arm are recruited. Methods: LDAC was given at 20mg BD SC on days 1-10 of each course. Patients randomised to the combination received LDAC as above with BCT-100 1600U/kg on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 as a 1-hour intravenous infusion. Courses occurred at 4-6 week intervals. Toxicities were recorded using CTCAE version 3. Pharmacokinetic and biomarker samples were assessed in BCT-100 patients. Results here are based upon median follow-up of 3.8 months (range: 0.1 - 20.6 months) Results: Between September 2018 and December 2020, 83 patients were randomised. The trial was prematurely closed due to the COVID pandemic and did not reach the pre-planned first evaluation. Median age was 76.7 years (range 62-88). Overall, 65% were male;70% de novo AML, 23% secondary AML, and 6% high risk MDS;2% favourable, 59% intermediate, 23% adverse and 15% unknown/unreported cytogenetics. Median of 2 courses was delivered in either arm (mean 2 LDAC, 2 LDAC+BCT, range for both: 1-12). BCT-100 leads to a depletion of arginine from baseline in the majority of patients. Overall response (CR/CRi) was achieved in 12/81 patients (15%), (LDAC+BCT-100 15%, LDAC 15%, R 1.03 (0.30, 3.51),P=0.963). Thirty-day mortality was not significantly increased (18% vs 11%, HR 1.71 (0.50, 5.84), P=0.393;and 1-year survival showed no evidence of a difference (31% vs 30%, HR 1.28 (0.72, 2.25). Median overall survival time was 3.8 vs 6.4months;overall survival HR 1.11 (0.64, 1.90), P=0.715. The most common cause of death was resistant/recurrent disease: 12(46%) vs 16(59%). BCT-100 was not associated with any haematological toxicity;although rare grade 3/4 cardiac and hepatic events were reported, these were not significantly increased with BCT-100. Summary: The addition of BCT-100 to LDAC did not improve response rate or survival. BCT-100 was well tolerated with an acceptable toxicity profile. Further clinical evaluation of BCT-100 induced arginase depletion continues in a variety of malignancies. Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Blood Cancer UK for funding the trial and Bio-Cancer Treatment International for providing drug and additional support for this Investigator Initiated Study. Figure 1. OS All patients [Formula presented] Disclosures: Knapper: Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Astellas: Ended employment in the past 24 months, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. McMullin: Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: clinical trial support, Research Funding;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Abb ie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;AOP Orphan: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Copland: Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Cyclacel Ltd: Research Funding;Astellas: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Russell: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Novartis: Speakers Bureau;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jazz: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.
ABSTRACT
Background Based on early evidence of a high rate of coronavirus mortality in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) undergoing intensive chemotherapy (IC), the national health service (NHS) in the United Kingdom temporarily made venetoclax available as an alternative therapy, with the aim of reducing both mortality and healthcare resource use. From late April 2020, venetoclax was available to patients aged >16y with NPM1 mutation without FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD), patients aged >50y with NPM1, IDH1 or IDH2 mutations (regardless of FLT3 status) and patients aged >60y without favourable-risk cytogenetics. Venetoclax could be given with either azacitidine or low-dose cytarabine (LDAC), with the latter recommended mainly for patients with NPM1 mutation. We report a health-system-wide real world data collection for toxicity and patient outcomes across 65 NHS Hospitals. Methods Each patient was registered on a central NHS database. Clinicians certified that their patient met the above criteria, had not received previous AML treatment, and was fit for induction chemotherapy. Anonymised data were retrospectively collected by treating physicians. Venetoclax dose, duration and toxicity information was requested for the first 4 cycles of therapy. Response definitions were as per European Leukaemia Network (ELN) guidelines. A total of 870 patients have been registered on the scheme, with outcomes reported here for those with follow-up information at a data cut on 1st August 2021. Results There were 301 patients, median age 72y (range 34 - 90) with 62% male. The majority (81%) had an ECOG performance status of 0-1. AML was secondary to a previous haematological disorder in 33%, therapy-related in 10% and de novo in the remaining 57%. MRC cytogenetic risk was intermediate in 70% and adverse in 27%. NPM1 mutations were detected in 28% and FLT3-ITD in 12%. Next-generation sequencing results were available in 86% of patients, which detected mutations in IDH1 or IDH2 in 28%, ASXL1 in 20%, RUNX1 in 17% and TP53 in 12%. The ELN risk was favourable for 23%, intermediate for 30% and adverse for 44%. A majority received venetoclax in combination with azacitidine (85%), with the remaining 15% receiving LDAC. The LDAC cohort was enriched for de novo AML (76% vs 54%) and NPM1-mutated disease (56% vs 23%). Most patients (81%) followed the recommended initial schedule of venetoclax 100mg daily for 28 days in combination with posaconazole or voriconazole. Patients spent a median 14 days in hospital in cycle 1, then a median of 0 days for cycles 2-4. In cycles 1, 2, 3 and 4, the median number of days for recovery of neutrophils to >0.5x10 9/L was 33, 25, 24 and 14 respectively, and the median number of days to recovery of platelets to >50x10 9/L was 22, 3, 0 (no drop below 50) and 0. The composite complete remission (CR) / CR with incomplete haematological recovery (CRi) rate was 70%. MRD data is being collected. The best response was morphological leukaemia free state (MLFS) in 2%, partial remission in 7% and refractory disease in 11%. CR/CRi was higher in de novo (78%) compared to secondary AML (57%, p=0.02);NPM1 mutated (78% vs 67%, p=0.02) and IDH1/IDH2 mutated disease (85% vs 62%, p=0.02). ELN favourable risk patients had the highest CR/CRi rate (85%, intermediate 71%, adverse 60%, p=0.01). Median follow-up was 8.2 months (95%CI 7.8 - 9.0) with median overall survival (OS) 12.8 months (95%CI 10.9 - not reached). Mortality at day 30 was 5.7% and day 60 was 8.4%. 12-month overall survival was 51%, increasing to 71% in those who achieved CR/CRi. Survival was poorer in secondary (HR 1.9, p <0.01) and therapy-related AML (HR 2.1, p=0.02), better in NPM1 mutated (HR 0.6, p=0.02) and IDH mutated (HR 0.5, p=0.02) disease and poorer with TP53 mutation (HR 2.0, p=0.01). Overall survival did not differ for patients treated with LDAC compared to azacitidine (HR 1.1, p=0.7). Conclusion This large real-world study demonstrates CR/CRi and survival rates comparable to those reported in prospective clinical trials. Importantly, during t e COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of venetoclax regimens permitted the great majority of treatment to be delivered as an outpatient with significant resource saving at a time of critically constrained inpatient resources. The data support prospective comparisons of venetoclax-based regimens to IC in fit adults with AML particularly in older patients with de novo AML, NPM1-mutated and IDH-mutated disease. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Belsham: Celgene: Other: meeting attendance;Abbvie: Other: meeting attendance. Khan: Abbvie: Honoraria;Astellas: Honoraria;Takeda: Honoraria;Jazz: Honoraria;Gilead: Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria. Khwaja: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Latif: Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria;Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Takeda UK: Speakers Bureau. Loke: Pfizer: Honoraria;Amgen: Honoraria;Janssen: Honoraria;Novartis: Other: Travel;Daichi Sankyo: Other: Travel. Murthy: Abbvie: Other: support to attend educational conferences. Smith: ARIAD: Honoraria;Pfizer: Speakers Bureau;Daiichi Sankyo: Speakers Bureau. Whitmill: Daiichi-sankyo: Other: travel fees;EHA in stockholm: Other: conference support. Craddock: Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board;Celgene/BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Dillon: Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jazz: Other: Education events;Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: educational events;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Session chair (paid to institution), Speakers Bureau;Menarini: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Astellas: Consultancy, Other: Educational Events, Speakers Bureau;Amgen: Other: Research support (paid to institution);Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research Support, Educational Events.
ABSTRACT
Patients with secondary AML or MDS derived AML have poor outcomes compared to de-novo AML. The benefits of intensive chemotherapy without anticipated transplant consolidation have been previously doubted. Outcomes in USA trial centres have not often been closely replicable in real world settings. From November 2018 CPX-351 has been available in the UK for secondary AML, therapy related AML, AML with MDS related Karyotype (AML-MRC) and licensed but not funded for AML with myelodysplastic related changes. Objectives Here we report our experience specifically on patient outcomes and toxicity across 5 Hospitals in West Midlands, UK Methods Patients receiving CPX 351 outcomes were evaluated retrospectively from 2018 to 2021. Baseline genetics, CPX 351 indications, patient's comorbidities, overall survival, remission status, number of cycles delivered, early mortality, reasons for early discontinuation, intensive care admission and time for neutrophil recovery (>0.5) was recorded. Time-to-event outcomes reported here are from a data cut on 01-06-21 Results In a total cohort of 57 patients baseline characteristics are shown on table 1 and compared with the original trial CPX-351 group. Median follow up was 376 days (range 21 to 1248 days). The mean age was 63, 17 patients were under 60, 31 males and 26 females. The most common indication for CPX-351 was AML with antecedent MDS/MPN 51% (N=29), therapy related 14% (N=8), MDS related karyotype (AML-MRC) 19% (N=11) and 16% (N=9) other patients. Mean Charleston co-morbidity score was 2.7 (range 0-6), 10.5% (N=6) had previous non myeloid malignancies, 8.7% (N=5) had prior ischaemic heart disease, only 3.5% (N=2) had ejection fractions under 50%. The most common mutations were TP53 21% (N=12), ASXL1 15.7% (N=9), TET2 15.7% (N=9), IDH2 10.5% (N=6), RUNX1 10.5% (N=6), SRSF2 7% (N=4), JAK2 3.5% (N=2), FLT3 5% (N=3), NPM1 5%(N=3) and IDH1 5% (N=3). MRC cytogenetic risk was adverse in 19 patients (33%), intermediate in 35 patients (61%) and favourable in 3 patients (5%). 30 patients (53%) had adverse European Leukaemia Network classification, 17 (30%) had intermediate and 10 (17%) had favourable. 30-day mortality was 3/57 (5%), 60-day mortality was 6 (10.5%) comparable to the 5.9% and 10.6% rates for the original trial. 9% or 5/57 patients were admitted to ITU with 2 survivors beyond 60 days. Neutropenic fever requiring antibiotics was 100% whereas only 5/57 (9%) had radiological evidence of fungal infection. Only one patient died from COVID 19. The mean time to neutrophil recovery was 35 days with a range of 12 to 84 days. 29 patients completed 1 cycle, 25 completed 2 cycles, only 3 completed 3 cycles. The reasons for stopping were death, refractory disease, drop in performance status, alternative chemotherapy chosen or moving to transplantation (39%). Composite remission rate including CRi was 61% 36/57, adverse ELN group demonstrated 50% 15/30, intermediate 76% 13/17 and favourable 80% 8/10. Mutated P53 was associated with a 50% 6/12 rate whereas in wild type P53 the remission rate was 60% 30/45. Overall median survival from diagnosis was 429 days [95% CI 274 to 788 days]. To compare with the original trial, we removed the under 60s and those with less than 1 year follow up, in this cohort of 30 patients the median survival was 289 days (9.5 months) with 95% CI of 255 to 476 days. P53 mutated patients had an estimated median survival of 257 days versus wild type p53 with 524 days hazard ratio of 2.418 (CI 1.077 to 5.248) with p value of 0.032. Median survival for ELN groups was 373 days (adverse), 413 days (intermediate) and not reached for favourable. Of the 36 patients who achieved a remission, 22 went on to receive an allogenic transplant with follow from 254 to 1248 days, median survival estimated 706 days (95% CI 429-not reached). Patients in remission who haven't received a transplant have a similar estimated survival of 788 days (305-not reached) pending longer follow up. Conclusion This is the first UK multicentre analysis to show comparable results to the landmark trial ( edian survival 9.5 months in equivalent cases). The improved overall remission rate 61% versus the 47% in the trial and the longer median survival 14 months versus 9.5 months in the trial is expected given the younger age and increase in favourable risk genetics. This study therefore supplies further data of CPX-351 efficacy in younger patients not included in the original studies and may now be used as a standard comparator arm. [Formula presented] Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
ABSTRACT
Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is driven by aberrant leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that initiate and sustain malignancy. To circumvent resistance to therapy, combination therapies with additive mechanisms of action are needed. CD70, a tumor necrosis factor receptor ligand, and its receptor CD27 are expressed on LSCs and AML blasts, but not on hematopoietic stem cells. Cusatuzumab, a high-affinity humanized monoclonal anti-CD70 antibody, kills CD70-expressing cells by Fc domain-mediated effector functions and is a potent inhibitor of CD70-CD27 signaling. Here we report initial results of a study of cusatuzumab in combination with the current standard of care therapy, venetoclax plus azacitidine (CVA), in patients with untreated AML (de novo or secondary) ineligible for intensive chemotherapy due to age ≥75 years or medical comorbidities. Methods: The primary objective of this open label, multicenter, phase 1b study was to assess safety and tolerability of CVA. Key secondary objectives included response rate per ELN 2017 criteria and time to response. Patients received cusatuzumab 10 or 20 mg/kg IV on Day 3 and Day 17, a 3-day ramp-up of venetoclax (100, 200, and 400 mg PO) followed by 400 mg daily dosing, and azacitidine 75 mg/m 2 SC or IV on Days 1-7 of each 28-day cycle. Results: Based on data through Jul 9, 2021, 44 patients enrolled with median age 75 years (range 32-89), 36.4% had secondary AML, 40.9% had an ECOG performance status of 2, and ELN risk was favorable, intermediate and adverse in 18.2%, 20.5% and 61.4%, respectively. All patients received 20 mg/kg cusatuzumab except for 3 patients who received a starting dose of 10 mg/kg with the option to escalate to 20 mg/kg. Of these 3 patients, 1 escalated to 20 mg/kg. At a median follow-up of 29.1 weeks, the median number of treatment cycles was 4.0 (range 1.0-11.0). Grade 3 or above TEAEs were reported in 97.7% of patients;the most common (reported in ≥10%) were neutropenia (68.2%), thrombocytopenia (65.9%), febrile neutropenia (36.4%), anemia (34.1%), leukopenia (29.5%), sepsis (27.3%), and lymphopenia (15.9%). Treatment-emergent serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 75% of patients;the most common (reported in at least ≥5%) were febrile neutropenia (27.3%), sepsis (22.7%), COVID-19 (6.8%), and thrombocytopenia (6.8%). Treatment-emergent SAEs of grade ≥3 were reported in 72.7% of the patients. Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) were reported for 11.4% of patients with 2.3% at grade ≥3. Six (13.6%) patients discontinued treatment due to AEs, and 5 (11.4%) TEAEs resulted in death. The mortality rate within 30 days from start of treatment was 4.5%. Table 1 summarizes best response to study treatment. In the intent-to-treat analysis set (n=44) complete remission (CR) rate was 45.5%, while CR + CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) was 77.3%;MLFS was observed in 11.4% of patients. Of 34 responders (defined as CR, CRi or CRh), 47% were MRD negative by flow cytometry at or after achievement of response. Median time to first response for patients who achieved CR, CRh or CRi was 4.21 (3.0-25.0) weeks. Best response rates in the post-hoc response evaluable analysis set (n=42) that excluded two patients who died before the first disease evaluation were: CR in 47.6%, CR + CRh + CRi in 81.0% and MLFS in 11.9% of patients (Table 1). The majority (97.1%) of responders experienced at least one cycle delay in administration of CVA post response. Conclusions: Cusatuzumab administered in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine to elderly patients with untreated AML was generally well tolerated and demonstrated a safety profile consistent with that previously reported with venetoclax-azacitidine, with the addition of generally manageable IRRs. Response rates support an additive effect of cusatuzumab to the standard of care with potential for improved clinical outcomes. However, further clinical trials are needed for validation of these initial results. HK and GB contributed equally to this publ cation. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Roboz: AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Janssen: Research Funding;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy;Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy;Agios: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy;Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Helsinn: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy;Celgene: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy;MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy;Mesoblast: Consultancy;Actinium: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy;Astex: Consultancy;Bayer: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;Roche/Genentech: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy;Otsuka: Consultancy. Aribi: Seagen: Consultancy. Brandwein: Astellas: Honoraria;Jazz: Honoraria;Amgen: Honoraria;Taiho: Honoraria;BMS/Celgene: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria;Abbvie: Honoraria;University of Alberta: Current Employment. Döhner: Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria;Berlin-Chemie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;GEMoaB: Consultancy, Honoraria;Helsinn: Consultancy, Honoraria;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria;Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Oxford Biomedicals: Consultancy, Honoraria;Pfizer: Research Funding;Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria;Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Astex: Consultancy, Honoraria;Ulm University Hospital: Current Employment. Fiedler: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Morphosys: Consultancy;Celgene: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding;Novartis: Consultancy;ARIAD/Incyte: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding;Servier: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance;Stemline: Consultancy. Gandini: argenx: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months. Geddes: University of Calgary: Current Employment;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy;BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Amgen: Consultancy;Paladin: Consultancy;Janssen: Research Funding;Geron: Research Funding;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Hou: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Centers: Current Employment;AbbVie: Honoraria;AstraZeneca: Honoraria;Karyopharm: Honoraria;Chinese American Hematology Oncology Network: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Howes: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment;Johnson & Johnson: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Hultberg: argenx: Current Employment, Patents & Royalties. Huselton: University of Rochester: Current Employment. Jacobs: Argenx BV: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company;University of Antwerp: Ended employment in the past 24 months. Kane: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lech-Marańda: Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors r advisory committees;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Janssen-Cilag: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Louwers: argenx: Current Employment, Patents & Royalties: Patents (no royalties). Nottage: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment;Johnson & Johnson: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Platzbecker: Novartis: Honoraria;AbbVie: Honoraria;Janssen: Honoraria;Celgene/BMS: Honoraria;Geron: Honoraria;Takeda: Honoraria. Rampal: Pharmaessentia: Consultancy;BMS/Celgene: Consultancy;Abbvie: Consultancy;Sierra Oncology: Consultancy;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding;Blueprint: Consultancy;Disc Medicine: Consultancy;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy;Constellation: Research Funding;Kartos: Consultancy;Stemline: Consultancy, Research Funding;CTI: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Memorial Sloan Kettering: Current Employment. Salman: Janssen: Current Employment, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Shah: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment. Stuart: Clinical Drug Development Consultants LLC: Current Employment;Argenx: Consultancy;Cleave Therapeutics: Consultancy;Triphase Accelerator Corp: Consultancy;IgM Biosciences: Consultancy;Revolution Medicines: Consultancy;Jiya Corp:Consultancy;Geron Corp: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Subklewe: Janssen: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Speakers Bureau;Klinikum der Universität München: Current Employment;MorphoSys: Research Funding;Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Roche: Research Funding;Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding;Miltenyi: Research Funding;Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Sumbul: argenx: Current Employment. Wang: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau;AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Kite Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;DAVA Oncology: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Kura Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, steering committee, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;Mana Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria;Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau;Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Other: Data safety monitoring committee;Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;Genentech: Consultancy;MacroGenics: Consultancy. Wierzbowska: Jazz: Research Funding;Pfizer: Honoraria;Janssen: 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;Astellas: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory comm ttees;Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS: Honoraria. Yao: Statagize LLC: Current Employment;Puma Biotechnology, Inc.: Ended employment in the past 24 months;Argenx: Consultancy. Yee: Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Janssen: Research Funding;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Onconova: Research Funding;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Tolero: Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Paladin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;MedImmune: Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Geron: Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;F. Hoffmann La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding. Kantarjian: Immunogen: Research Funding;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;NOVA Research: Honoraria;Ascentage: Research Funding;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Jazz: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria. Borthakur: Protagonist: Consultancy;Ryvu: Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding;GSK: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Current Employment;ArgenX: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.