ASH 2017

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—A 2-drug combination has produced a high response rate in a small trial of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R), Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The combination, inotuzumab ozogamicin and bosutinib, produced an overall response rate of 81% in this ongoing, phase 1/2 trial.

Nitin Jain, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, presented phase 1 results from the study at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 143*).

He reported results in 16 patients, 14 with R/R, Ph+ ALL and 2 with chronic myeloid leukemia in lymphoid blast phase.

The patients received inotuzumab ozogamicin at 0.8 mg/m² on day 1, 0.5 mg/m² on day 8, and 0.5 mg/m² on day 15 of cycle 1. Patients who achieved a response received inotuzumab ozogamicin at 1 mg/m² once every 4 weeks for subsequent cycles. Six cycles were planned.

Patients also received bosutinib at 300 mg, 400 mg, or 500 mg once a day for 4-week cycles. The median number of cycles was 2.5 (range, 1-8).

The maximum-tolerated dose has not been established, but there were 2 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). One DLT occurred with the 400 mg dose of bosutinib, and 1 occurred with the 500 mg dose. Both DLTs were grade 3 skin rash.

The investigators are continuing accrual with the 500 mg dose of bosutinib for the phase 2 portion of the trial, with 22 additional patients.

Response and survival

The overall response rate was 81% (n=13). This included a complete response (CR) in 8 patients, a CR with incomplete blood count recovery in 3 patients, and a CR with incomplete platelet recovery in 2 patients.

All responses occurred among the patients with ALL.

Twelve responders achieved complete cytogenetic remission, 11 achieved a major molecular response, 8 achieved a complete molecular response, and 9 were negative by flow cytometry.

The median duration of response was 8.8 months.

Of the 13 responders, 6 went on to receive an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Five of these patients are still alive, but 1 died from relapse.

The median overall survival was 10.7 months.

“These data suggest the tolerability and efficacy of inotuzumab ozogamicin and bosutinib in R/R Ph+ ALL,” Dr Jain said. “And we are looking forward to the next phase of this study.”

Dr Jain disclosed receiving research funding from Celgene, Verastem, BMS, Incyte, Pharmacyclics, ADC Therapeutics, Genentech, AbbVie, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Janssen, Cellectis, and Seattle Genetics. He disclosed membership on boards of directors/advisory committees for Verastem, Servier, Novimmune, Pharmacyclics, Novartis, ADC Therapeutics, AbbVie, Pfizer, Adaptive Biotechnologies, and Janssen.

*Data in the presentation differ from the abstract.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—A 2-drug combination has produced a high response rate in a small trial of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R), Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The combination, inotuzumab ozogamicin and bosutinib, produced an overall response rate of 81% in this ongoing, phase 1/2 trial.

Nitin Jain, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, presented phase 1 results from the study at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 143*).

He reported results in 16 patients, 14 with R/R, Ph+ ALL and 2 with chronic myeloid leukemia in lymphoid blast phase.

The patients received inotuzumab ozogamicin at 0.8 mg/m² on day 1, 0.5 mg/m² on day 8, and 0.5 mg/m² on day 15 of cycle 1. Patients who achieved a response received inotuzumab ozogamicin at 1 mg/m² once every 4 weeks for subsequent cycles. Six cycles were planned.

Patients also received bosutinib at 300 mg, 400 mg, or 500 mg once a day for 4-week cycles. The median number of cycles was 2.5 (range, 1-8).

The maximum-tolerated dose has not been established, but there were 2 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). One DLT occurred with the 400 mg dose of bosutinib, and 1 occurred with the 500 mg dose. Both DLTs were grade 3 skin rash.

The investigators are continuing accrual with the 500 mg dose of bosutinib for the phase 2 portion of the trial, with 22 additional patients.

Response and survival

The overall response rate was 81% (n=13). This included a complete response (CR) in 8 patients, a CR with incomplete blood count recovery in 3 patients, and a CR with incomplete platelet recovery in 2 patients.

All responses occurred among the patients with ALL.

Twelve responders achieved complete cytogenetic remission, 11 achieved a major molecular response, 8 achieved a complete molecular response, and 9 were negative by flow cytometry.

The median duration of response was 8.8 months.

Of the 13 responders, 6 went on to receive an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Five of these patients are still alive, but 1 died from relapse.

The median overall survival was 10.7 months.

“These data suggest the tolerability and efficacy of inotuzumab ozogamicin and bosutinib in R/R Ph+ ALL,” Dr Jain said. “And we are looking forward to the next phase of this study.”

Dr Jain disclosed receiving research funding from Celgene, Verastem, BMS, Incyte, Pharmacyclics, ADC Therapeutics, Genentech, AbbVie, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Janssen, Cellectis, and Seattle Genetics. He disclosed membership on boards of directors/advisory committees for Verastem, Servier, Novimmune, Pharmacyclics, Novartis, ADC Therapeutics, AbbVie, Pfizer, Adaptive Biotechnologies, and Janssen.

*Data in the presentation differ from the abstract.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—A 2-drug combination has produced a high response rate in a small trial of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R), Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The combination, inotuzumab ozogamicin and bosutinib, produced an overall response rate of 81% in this ongoing, phase 1/2 trial.

Nitin Jain, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, presented phase 1 results from the study at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 143*).

He reported results in 16 patients, 14 with R/R, Ph+ ALL and 2 with chronic myeloid leukemia in lymphoid blast phase.

The patients received inotuzumab ozogamicin at 0.8 mg/m² on day 1, 0.5 mg/m² on day 8, and 0.5 mg/m² on day 15 of cycle 1. Patients who achieved a response received inotuzumab ozogamicin at 1 mg/m² once every 4 weeks for subsequent cycles. Six cycles were planned.

Patients also received bosutinib at 300 mg, 400 mg, or 500 mg once a day for 4-week cycles. The median number of cycles was 2.5 (range, 1-8).

The maximum-tolerated dose has not been established, but there were 2 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). One DLT occurred with the 400 mg dose of bosutinib, and 1 occurred with the 500 mg dose. Both DLTs were grade 3 skin rash.

The investigators are continuing accrual with the 500 mg dose of bosutinib for the phase 2 portion of the trial, with 22 additional patients.

Response and survival

The overall response rate was 81% (n=13). This included a complete response (CR) in 8 patients, a CR with incomplete blood count recovery in 3 patients, and a CR with incomplete platelet recovery in 2 patients.

All responses occurred among the patients with ALL.

Twelve responders achieved complete cytogenetic remission, 11 achieved a major molecular response, 8 achieved a complete molecular response, and 9 were negative by flow cytometry.

The median duration of response was 8.8 months.

Of the 13 responders, 6 went on to receive an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Five of these patients are still alive, but 1 died from relapse.

The median overall survival was 10.7 months.

“These data suggest the tolerability and efficacy of inotuzumab ozogamicin and bosutinib in R/R Ph+ ALL,” Dr Jain said. “And we are looking forward to the next phase of this study.”

Dr Jain disclosed receiving research funding from Celgene, Verastem, BMS, Incyte, Pharmacyclics, ADC Therapeutics, Genentech, AbbVie, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Janssen, Cellectis, and Seattle Genetics. He disclosed membership on boards of directors/advisory committees for Verastem, Servier, Novimmune, Pharmacyclics, Novartis, ADC Therapeutics, AbbVie, Pfizer, Adaptive Biotechnologies, and Janssen.

*Data in the presentation differ from the abstract.

Marie Scully, MD

ATLANTA—Caplacizumab can improve outcomes in patients with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), according to research presented at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

In the phase 3 HERCULES trial, researchers compared caplacizumab, an anti-von Willebrand factor nanobody, plus standard care (plasma exchange and immunosuppression) to placebo plus standard care in patients with aTTP.

Patients who received caplacizumab were significantly more likely to achieve platelet normalization and significantly less likely to experience aTTP-related death, aTTP recurrence, and major thromboembolic events.

Patients in the caplacizumab arm also required plasma exchange less frequently and spent less time in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU).

Bleeding-related adverse events (AEs) were more common among patients who received caplacizumab than those who received placebo.

Marie Scully, MD, of the University College London Hospitals in London, UK, presented these results from HERCULES as a late-breaking abstract at the ASH Annual Meeting (abstract LBA-1). HERCULES was supported by Ablynx.

Patients and treatment

The study enrolled patients with an acute episode of aTTP. They were randomized to receive either caplacizumab (n=72) or placebo (n=73) in addition to standard care, which consisted of plasma exchange and immunosuppression.

Patients received a single intravenous bolus of 10 mg of caplacizumab or placebo followed by a daily subcutaneous dose of 10 mg of caplacizumab or placebo until 30 days after the last daily plasma exchange. If patients had a recurrence during the 30-day treatment period, they could go on to receive open-label caplacizumab.

If, at the end of the 30-day treatment period, there was evidence of persistent underlying disease activity indicative of an imminent risk for recurrence, caplacizumab or placebo could be extended for additional 7-day periods up to a maximum of 28 days. Patients were followed for a further 28 days after discontinuation of treatment.

In all, 71 patients received caplacizumab, and 58 (80.6%) of them completed the treatment. Seventy-three patients received placebo, and 50 of these patients (68.5%) completed treatment. Twenty-six patients in the placebo arm and 2 patients in the caplacizumab arm received open-label caplacizumab.

“If we look at the demographics, they’re relatively comparable to any data we normally see in patients with immune-mediated TTP,” Dr Scully said.

At baseline, the mean age was 44.9 in the caplacizumab arm and 47.3 in the placebo arm. Most patients in both arms were female—68.1% and 69.9%, respectively.

The proportion of patients with an initial aTTP episode was 66.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 46.6% in the placebo arm. The proportion with a recurrent episode was 33.3% and 53.4%, respectively.

Most patients in both arms had ADAMTS13 activity below 10% at baseline—81.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 90.3% in the placebo arm.

The mean platelet count at baseline was 32.0 x 10⁹/L in the caplacizumab arm and 39.1 x 10⁹/L in the placebo arm.

Efficacy

The study’s primary endpoint was the time to normalization of platelet count response, which was defined as initial platelet count of at least 150 x 10⁹/L with subsequent stop of daily plasma exchange within 5 days.

There was a significant reduction in time to platelet count response in the caplacizumab arm compared to the placebo arm. The platelet normalization rate ratio was 1.55 (P<0.01).

“Patients were 55% more likely to achieve normalization of their platelet count at any time in the caplacizumab group, and this was highly significant,” Dr Scully said.

A secondary endpoint was the combination of aTTP-related death, aTTP recurrence, and at least 1 major thromboembolic event during study treatment. The incidence of this combined endpoint was 12.7% (n=9) in the caplacizumab arm and 49.3% (n=36) in the placebo arm (P<0.0001).

The incidence of aTTP-related death was 0% (n=0) in the caplacizumab arm and 4.1% (n=3) in the placebo arm. The incidence of aTTP recurrence was 4.2% (n=3) and 38.4% (n=28), respectively. And the incidence of at least 1 major thromboembolic event was 8.5% (n=6) and 8.2% (n=6), respectively.

The researchers also assessed aTTP recurrence during the overall study period, which occurred in 12.7% (n=9) of patients in the caplacizumab arm and 38.4% (n=28) in the placebo arm (P<0.001).

During the follow-up period, there were 6 relapses (9.1%) in the caplacizumab arm but none in the placebo arm.

“This tells us something about the pathophysiology of TTP and the role of caplacizumab,” Dr Scully said. “All of these patients, on stopping caplacizumab, had ADAMTS13 levels less than 5%. Therefore, it was important that their treatment was continued to ensure removal of antibody.”

According to the International TTP Working Group consensus definition, none of the patients in the caplacizumab arm and 7.0% (n=5) of patients in the placebo arm had refractory aTTP (P=0.018).

The mean number of days of plasma exchange during the overall treatment period was 5.8 days in the caplacizumab arm and 9.4 days in the placebo arm (a 38% relative reduction). The mean volume of plasma used was 21.3L and 35.9L, respectively (a 41% relative reduction).

The mean duration of hospital stay was 9.9 days in the caplacizumab arm and 14.4 days in the placebo arm (a 31% relative reduction).

For patients admitted to the ICU (28 in the caplacizumab arm and 27 in the placebo arm), the mean number of days in the ICU was 3.4 days in the caplacizumab arm and 9.7 days in the placebo arm (a 65% relative reduction).

Safety

“The safety profile [of caplacizumab] was comparable to previous results and in keeping with the mechanism of action,” Dr Scully said.

The proportion of patients with at least 1 treatment-emergent AE was 97.2% in the caplacizumab arm and 97.3% in the placebo arm.

The proportion of patients with at least 1 study-drug-related AE was 57.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 43.8% in the placebo arm. The rate of discontinuation due to at least 1 AE was 7.0% and 12.3%, respectively.

The incidence of bleeding-related AEs was higher in the caplacizumab arm (45.6%) than the placebo arm (23.3%).

Bleeding-related AEs (in the caplacizumab and placebo arms, respectively) included epistaxis (23.9% and 1.4%), gingival bleeding (11.3% and 0%), bruising (7.0% and 4.1%), hematuria (5.6% and 1.4%), vaginal hemorrhage (4.2% and 1.4%), menorrhagia (2.8% and 1.4%), catheter site hemorrhage (2.8% and 4.1%), injection site bruising (2.8% and 2.7%), hematochezia (2.8% and 0%), and hematoma (2.8% and 0%).

The proportion of patients with at least 1 serious AE was 39.4% (n=28) in the caplacizumab arm and 53.4% (n=39) in the placebo arm. The proportion of patients with at least 1 study-drug-related serious AE was 14.1% (n=10) and 5.5% (n=4), respectively.

During the treatment period, there were no deaths in the caplacizumab arm and 3 deaths in the placebo arm. There was 1 death in the caplacizumab arm during the follow-up period, but it was considered unrelated to caplacizumab.

Marie Scully, MD

ATLANTA—Caplacizumab can improve outcomes in patients with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), according to research presented at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

In the phase 3 HERCULES trial, researchers compared caplacizumab, an anti-von Willebrand factor nanobody, plus standard care (plasma exchange and immunosuppression) to placebo plus standard care in patients with aTTP.

Patients who received caplacizumab were significantly more likely to achieve platelet normalization and significantly less likely to experience aTTP-related death, aTTP recurrence, and major thromboembolic events.

Patients in the caplacizumab arm also required plasma exchange less frequently and spent less time in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU).

Bleeding-related adverse events (AEs) were more common among patients who received caplacizumab than those who received placebo.

Marie Scully, MD, of the University College London Hospitals in London, UK, presented these results from HERCULES as a late-breaking abstract at the ASH Annual Meeting (abstract LBA-1). HERCULES was supported by Ablynx.

Patients and treatment

The study enrolled patients with an acute episode of aTTP. They were randomized to receive either caplacizumab (n=72) or placebo (n=73) in addition to standard care, which consisted of plasma exchange and immunosuppression.

Patients received a single intravenous bolus of 10 mg of caplacizumab or placebo followed by a daily subcutaneous dose of 10 mg of caplacizumab or placebo until 30 days after the last daily plasma exchange. If patients had a recurrence during the 30-day treatment period, they could go on to receive open-label caplacizumab.

If, at the end of the 30-day treatment period, there was evidence of persistent underlying disease activity indicative of an imminent risk for recurrence, caplacizumab or placebo could be extended for additional 7-day periods up to a maximum of 28 days. Patients were followed for a further 28 days after discontinuation of treatment.

In all, 71 patients received caplacizumab, and 58 (80.6%) of them completed the treatment. Seventy-three patients received placebo, and 50 of these patients (68.5%) completed treatment. Twenty-six patients in the placebo arm and 2 patients in the caplacizumab arm received open-label caplacizumab.

“If we look at the demographics, they’re relatively comparable to any data we normally see in patients with immune-mediated TTP,” Dr Scully said.

At baseline, the mean age was 44.9 in the caplacizumab arm and 47.3 in the placebo arm. Most patients in both arms were female—68.1% and 69.9%, respectively.

The proportion of patients with an initial aTTP episode was 66.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 46.6% in the placebo arm. The proportion with a recurrent episode was 33.3% and 53.4%, respectively.

Most patients in both arms had ADAMTS13 activity below 10% at baseline—81.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 90.3% in the placebo arm.

The mean platelet count at baseline was 32.0 x 10⁹/L in the caplacizumab arm and 39.1 x 10⁹/L in the placebo arm.

Efficacy

The study’s primary endpoint was the time to normalization of platelet count response, which was defined as initial platelet count of at least 150 x 10⁹/L with subsequent stop of daily plasma exchange within 5 days.

There was a significant reduction in time to platelet count response in the caplacizumab arm compared to the placebo arm. The platelet normalization rate ratio was 1.55 (P<0.01).

“Patients were 55% more likely to achieve normalization of their platelet count at any time in the caplacizumab group, and this was highly significant,” Dr Scully said.

A secondary endpoint was the combination of aTTP-related death, aTTP recurrence, and at least 1 major thromboembolic event during study treatment. The incidence of this combined endpoint was 12.7% (n=9) in the caplacizumab arm and 49.3% (n=36) in the placebo arm (P<0.0001).

The incidence of aTTP-related death was 0% (n=0) in the caplacizumab arm and 4.1% (n=3) in the placebo arm. The incidence of aTTP recurrence was 4.2% (n=3) and 38.4% (n=28), respectively. And the incidence of at least 1 major thromboembolic event was 8.5% (n=6) and 8.2% (n=6), respectively.

The researchers also assessed aTTP recurrence during the overall study period, which occurred in 12.7% (n=9) of patients in the caplacizumab arm and 38.4% (n=28) in the placebo arm (P<0.001).

During the follow-up period, there were 6 relapses (9.1%) in the caplacizumab arm but none in the placebo arm.

“This tells us something about the pathophysiology of TTP and the role of caplacizumab,” Dr Scully said. “All of these patients, on stopping caplacizumab, had ADAMTS13 levels less than 5%. Therefore, it was important that their treatment was continued to ensure removal of antibody.”

According to the International TTP Working Group consensus definition, none of the patients in the caplacizumab arm and 7.0% (n=5) of patients in the placebo arm had refractory aTTP (P=0.018).

The mean number of days of plasma exchange during the overall treatment period was 5.8 days in the caplacizumab arm and 9.4 days in the placebo arm (a 38% relative reduction). The mean volume of plasma used was 21.3L and 35.9L, respectively (a 41% relative reduction).

The mean duration of hospital stay was 9.9 days in the caplacizumab arm and 14.4 days in the placebo arm (a 31% relative reduction).

For patients admitted to the ICU (28 in the caplacizumab arm and 27 in the placebo arm), the mean number of days in the ICU was 3.4 days in the caplacizumab arm and 9.7 days in the placebo arm (a 65% relative reduction).

Safety

“The safety profile [of caplacizumab] was comparable to previous results and in keeping with the mechanism of action,” Dr Scully said.

The proportion of patients with at least 1 treatment-emergent AE was 97.2% in the caplacizumab arm and 97.3% in the placebo arm.

The proportion of patients with at least 1 study-drug-related AE was 57.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 43.8% in the placebo arm. The rate of discontinuation due to at least 1 AE was 7.0% and 12.3%, respectively.

The incidence of bleeding-related AEs was higher in the caplacizumab arm (45.6%) than the placebo arm (23.3%).

Bleeding-related AEs (in the caplacizumab and placebo arms, respectively) included epistaxis (23.9% and 1.4%), gingival bleeding (11.3% and 0%), bruising (7.0% and 4.1%), hematuria (5.6% and 1.4%), vaginal hemorrhage (4.2% and 1.4%), menorrhagia (2.8% and 1.4%), catheter site hemorrhage (2.8% and 4.1%), injection site bruising (2.8% and 2.7%), hematochezia (2.8% and 0%), and hematoma (2.8% and 0%).

The proportion of patients with at least 1 serious AE was 39.4% (n=28) in the caplacizumab arm and 53.4% (n=39) in the placebo arm. The proportion of patients with at least 1 study-drug-related serious AE was 14.1% (n=10) and 5.5% (n=4), respectively.

During the treatment period, there were no deaths in the caplacizumab arm and 3 deaths in the placebo arm. There was 1 death in the caplacizumab arm during the follow-up period, but it was considered unrelated to caplacizumab.

Marie Scully, MD

ATLANTA—Caplacizumab can improve outcomes in patients with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), according to research presented at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting.

In the phase 3 HERCULES trial, researchers compared caplacizumab, an anti-von Willebrand factor nanobody, plus standard care (plasma exchange and immunosuppression) to placebo plus standard care in patients with aTTP.

Patients who received caplacizumab were significantly more likely to achieve platelet normalization and significantly less likely to experience aTTP-related death, aTTP recurrence, and major thromboembolic events.

Patients in the caplacizumab arm also required plasma exchange less frequently and spent less time in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU).

Bleeding-related adverse events (AEs) were more common among patients who received caplacizumab than those who received placebo.

Marie Scully, MD, of the University College London Hospitals in London, UK, presented these results from HERCULES as a late-breaking abstract at the ASH Annual Meeting (abstract LBA-1). HERCULES was supported by Ablynx.

Patients and treatment

The study enrolled patients with an acute episode of aTTP. They were randomized to receive either caplacizumab (n=72) or placebo (n=73) in addition to standard care, which consisted of plasma exchange and immunosuppression.

Patients received a single intravenous bolus of 10 mg of caplacizumab or placebo followed by a daily subcutaneous dose of 10 mg of caplacizumab or placebo until 30 days after the last daily plasma exchange. If patients had a recurrence during the 30-day treatment period, they could go on to receive open-label caplacizumab.

If, at the end of the 30-day treatment period, there was evidence of persistent underlying disease activity indicative of an imminent risk for recurrence, caplacizumab or placebo could be extended for additional 7-day periods up to a maximum of 28 days. Patients were followed for a further 28 days after discontinuation of treatment.

In all, 71 patients received caplacizumab, and 58 (80.6%) of them completed the treatment. Seventy-three patients received placebo, and 50 of these patients (68.5%) completed treatment. Twenty-six patients in the placebo arm and 2 patients in the caplacizumab arm received open-label caplacizumab.

“If we look at the demographics, they’re relatively comparable to any data we normally see in patients with immune-mediated TTP,” Dr Scully said.

At baseline, the mean age was 44.9 in the caplacizumab arm and 47.3 in the placebo arm. Most patients in both arms were female—68.1% and 69.9%, respectively.

The proportion of patients with an initial aTTP episode was 66.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 46.6% in the placebo arm. The proportion with a recurrent episode was 33.3% and 53.4%, respectively.

Most patients in both arms had ADAMTS13 activity below 10% at baseline—81.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 90.3% in the placebo arm.

The mean platelet count at baseline was 32.0 x 10⁹/L in the caplacizumab arm and 39.1 x 10⁹/L in the placebo arm.

Efficacy

The study’s primary endpoint was the time to normalization of platelet count response, which was defined as initial platelet count of at least 150 x 10⁹/L with subsequent stop of daily plasma exchange within 5 days.

There was a significant reduction in time to platelet count response in the caplacizumab arm compared to the placebo arm. The platelet normalization rate ratio was 1.55 (P<0.01).

“Patients were 55% more likely to achieve normalization of their platelet count at any time in the caplacizumab group, and this was highly significant,” Dr Scully said.

A secondary endpoint was the combination of aTTP-related death, aTTP recurrence, and at least 1 major thromboembolic event during study treatment. The incidence of this combined endpoint was 12.7% (n=9) in the caplacizumab arm and 49.3% (n=36) in the placebo arm (P<0.0001).

The incidence of aTTP-related death was 0% (n=0) in the caplacizumab arm and 4.1% (n=3) in the placebo arm. The incidence of aTTP recurrence was 4.2% (n=3) and 38.4% (n=28), respectively. And the incidence of at least 1 major thromboembolic event was 8.5% (n=6) and 8.2% (n=6), respectively.

The researchers also assessed aTTP recurrence during the overall study period, which occurred in 12.7% (n=9) of patients in the caplacizumab arm and 38.4% (n=28) in the placebo arm (P<0.001).

During the follow-up period, there were 6 relapses (9.1%) in the caplacizumab arm but none in the placebo arm.

“This tells us something about the pathophysiology of TTP and the role of caplacizumab,” Dr Scully said. “All of these patients, on stopping caplacizumab, had ADAMTS13 levels less than 5%. Therefore, it was important that their treatment was continued to ensure removal of antibody.”

According to the International TTP Working Group consensus definition, none of the patients in the caplacizumab arm and 7.0% (n=5) of patients in the placebo arm had refractory aTTP (P=0.018).

The mean number of days of plasma exchange during the overall treatment period was 5.8 days in the caplacizumab arm and 9.4 days in the placebo arm (a 38% relative reduction). The mean volume of plasma used was 21.3L and 35.9L, respectively (a 41% relative reduction).

The mean duration of hospital stay was 9.9 days in the caplacizumab arm and 14.4 days in the placebo arm (a 31% relative reduction).

For patients admitted to the ICU (28 in the caplacizumab arm and 27 in the placebo arm), the mean number of days in the ICU was 3.4 days in the caplacizumab arm and 9.7 days in the placebo arm (a 65% relative reduction).

Safety

“The safety profile [of caplacizumab] was comparable to previous results and in keeping with the mechanism of action,” Dr Scully said.

The proportion of patients with at least 1 treatment-emergent AE was 97.2% in the caplacizumab arm and 97.3% in the placebo arm.

The proportion of patients with at least 1 study-drug-related AE was 57.7% in the caplacizumab arm and 43.8% in the placebo arm. The rate of discontinuation due to at least 1 AE was 7.0% and 12.3%, respectively.

The incidence of bleeding-related AEs was higher in the caplacizumab arm (45.6%) than the placebo arm (23.3%).

Bleeding-related AEs (in the caplacizumab and placebo arms, respectively) included epistaxis (23.9% and 1.4%), gingival bleeding (11.3% and 0%), bruising (7.0% and 4.1%), hematuria (5.6% and 1.4%), vaginal hemorrhage (4.2% and 1.4%), menorrhagia (2.8% and 1.4%), catheter site hemorrhage (2.8% and 4.1%), injection site bruising (2.8% and 2.7%), hematochezia (2.8% and 0%), and hematoma (2.8% and 0%).

The proportion of patients with at least 1 serious AE was 39.4% (n=28) in the caplacizumab arm and 53.4% (n=39) in the placebo arm. The proportion of patients with at least 1 study-drug-related serious AE was 14.1% (n=10) and 5.5% (n=4), respectively.

During the treatment period, there were no deaths in the caplacizumab arm and 3 deaths in the placebo arm. There was 1 death in the caplacizumab arm during the follow-up period, but it was considered unrelated to caplacizumab.

ATLANTA – Clinicians may be able to get a jump on identifying risk factors for relapse among adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission through the use of next-generation DNA sequencing, investigators reported.

Among 430 adults with AML with somatic driver mutations persistent in bone marrow during morphological complete remission (CR) following induction therapy, the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) bearing specific disease-related mutations on next-generation sequencing (NGS) was significantly associated with both the cumulative incidence of relapse and with overall survival. Tim Grob, MD, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, reported the findings during a late-breaking abstract session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Neil Osterweil/Frontline Medical News

In multivariable analysis of all 430 patients, adjusted for age, white blood cell count, 2017 European LeukemiaNet risk category, and number of induction cycles need to achieve CR, NGS MRD was an independent prognostic factor for both relapse (SHR 1.89, P less than .001) and overall survival (HR 1.64 P = .003).

When the investigators conducted a sensitivity analysis with time-dependent correction for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, they found that NGS MRD was still significantly prognostic for both relapse and survival.

The study was supported by the Dutch Cancer Society, the Haemato-Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands, the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research, and The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development. Dr. Grob reported having no relevant disclosures.

SOURCE: Jongen-Lavrencic M et al. ASH 2017 Abstract LBA 5.

ATLANTA – Clinicians may be able to get a jump on identifying risk factors for relapse among adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission through the use of next-generation DNA sequencing, investigators reported.

Among 430 adults with AML with somatic driver mutations persistent in bone marrow during morphological complete remission (CR) following induction therapy, the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) bearing specific disease-related mutations on next-generation sequencing (NGS) was significantly associated with both the cumulative incidence of relapse and with overall survival. Tim Grob, MD, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, reported the findings during a late-breaking abstract session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Neil Osterweil/Frontline Medical News

In multivariable analysis of all 430 patients, adjusted for age, white blood cell count, 2017 European LeukemiaNet risk category, and number of induction cycles need to achieve CR, NGS MRD was an independent prognostic factor for both relapse (SHR 1.89, P less than .001) and overall survival (HR 1.64 P = .003).

When the investigators conducted a sensitivity analysis with time-dependent correction for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, they found that NGS MRD was still significantly prognostic for both relapse and survival.

The study was supported by the Dutch Cancer Society, the Haemato-Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands, the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research, and The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development. Dr. Grob reported having no relevant disclosures.

SOURCE: Jongen-Lavrencic M et al. ASH 2017 Abstract LBA 5.

ATLANTA – Clinicians may be able to get a jump on identifying risk factors for relapse among adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission through the use of next-generation DNA sequencing, investigators reported.

Among 430 adults with AML with somatic driver mutations persistent in bone marrow during morphological complete remission (CR) following induction therapy, the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) bearing specific disease-related mutations on next-generation sequencing (NGS) was significantly associated with both the cumulative incidence of relapse and with overall survival. Tim Grob, MD, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, reported the findings during a late-breaking abstract session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Neil Osterweil/Frontline Medical News

In multivariable analysis of all 430 patients, adjusted for age, white blood cell count, 2017 European LeukemiaNet risk category, and number of induction cycles need to achieve CR, NGS MRD was an independent prognostic factor for both relapse (SHR 1.89, P less than .001) and overall survival (HR 1.64 P = .003).

When the investigators conducted a sensitivity analysis with time-dependent correction for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, they found that NGS MRD was still significantly prognostic for both relapse and survival.

The study was supported by the Dutch Cancer Society, the Haemato-Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands, the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research, and The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development. Dr. Grob reported having no relevant disclosures.

SOURCE: Jongen-Lavrencic M et al. ASH 2017 Abstract LBA 5.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—Results of a phase 2 trial suggest treatment with ponatinib and steroids is feasible for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are elderly and/or unfit for intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

More than 90% of patients who received this combination had a complete hematologic response at 24 weeks, and the treatment was considered well-tolerated.

“Ponatinib plus steroids is safe and effective in this fragile patient population, which is in urgent need of better therapeutic regimens,” said Giovanni Martinelli, MD, of the University of Bologna in Italy.

Dr Martinelli presented these findings at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 99*).

The trial (GIMEMA LAL 1811) was designed to evaluate whether steroids and ponatinib would be safe and effective in patients with newly diagnosed, Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL who were older than 60 or ineligible for intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

The study included 42 such patients. Their median age was 68 (range, 27-85). Nine patients were younger than 60 and unfit.

Sixty-two percent of patients had the p190 fusion transcript, 10% had p210, and 29% had p190/210 transcripts.

Patients received oral ponatinib (45 mg/day) for 8 consecutive 6-week courses. They also received steroids from day -14 to day 29 of course 1.

Patients received intrathecal methotrexate, cytarabine, and dexamethasone every 28 days for central nervous system (CNS) disease prophylaxis. If they were positive for CNS disease at diagnosis, patients received intrathecal therapy twice a week until complete remission.

The median follow-up was 17.2 months.

Results

Thirty-nine patients received steroid pretreatment, and 14 of them had a reduction in circulating blasts of 75% or more before starting ponatinib.

The study’s primary endpoint was complete hematologic response, which occurred in 95.2% of patients at 6 weeks and 90.5% at 24 weeks.

Based on test sensitivity of at least 10,000 ABL molecules, 60.6% of evaluable patients (20/33) had a complete molecular response at 24 weeks.

One patient with relapse had evidence of T315L mutations, which correlates with ponatinib resistance. No other mutations were detected in patients with relapse.

The overall survival rate was 97.6% at 6 months and 87.5% at 1 year.

“The fast and deep reduction of the disease burden in the majority of patients, the ability of ponatinib to prevent the emergence of clones harboring BCR-ABL mutations, and the synthetic lethality with steroids on the BCR-ABL, FLT3, HCK, CDK6, MCL1 pathway most likely explain the therapeutic effectiveness of this regimen,” Dr Martinelli said.

He also said steroids and ponatinib were well-tolerated, with 15 patients continuing treatment at 24 weeks.

Of 75 adverse events (AEs), 36 were related to ponatinib. There were 26 serious AEs, and 13 of them were related to ponatinib.

Serious cardiovascular AEs included arterial disorders (n=3), embolism (n=2), acute coronary syndrome (n=2), acute myocardial infarction (n=1), cardiac failure (n=1), pericardial effusion (n=1), and ischemia (n=1).

Ten deaths were reported. The causes were identified as progression (n=4), cardiovascular disease (n=3), toxicity (n=1), toxicity and progression (n=1), and unknown cause (n=1).

Dr Martinelli reported no disclosures.

*Data in the presentation differ from the abstract.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—Results of a phase 2 trial suggest treatment with ponatinib and steroids is feasible for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are elderly and/or unfit for intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

More than 90% of patients who received this combination had a complete hematologic response at 24 weeks, and the treatment was considered well-tolerated.

“Ponatinib plus steroids is safe and effective in this fragile patient population, which is in urgent need of better therapeutic regimens,” said Giovanni Martinelli, MD, of the University of Bologna in Italy.

Dr Martinelli presented these findings at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 99*).

The trial (GIMEMA LAL 1811) was designed to evaluate whether steroids and ponatinib would be safe and effective in patients with newly diagnosed, Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL who were older than 60 or ineligible for intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

The study included 42 such patients. Their median age was 68 (range, 27-85). Nine patients were younger than 60 and unfit.

Sixty-two percent of patients had the p190 fusion transcript, 10% had p210, and 29% had p190/210 transcripts.

Patients received oral ponatinib (45 mg/day) for 8 consecutive 6-week courses. They also received steroids from day -14 to day 29 of course 1.

Patients received intrathecal methotrexate, cytarabine, and dexamethasone every 28 days for central nervous system (CNS) disease prophylaxis. If they were positive for CNS disease at diagnosis, patients received intrathecal therapy twice a week until complete remission.

The median follow-up was 17.2 months.

Results

Thirty-nine patients received steroid pretreatment, and 14 of them had a reduction in circulating blasts of 75% or more before starting ponatinib.

The study’s primary endpoint was complete hematologic response, which occurred in 95.2% of patients at 6 weeks and 90.5% at 24 weeks.

Based on test sensitivity of at least 10,000 ABL molecules, 60.6% of evaluable patients (20/33) had a complete molecular response at 24 weeks.

One patient with relapse had evidence of T315L mutations, which correlates with ponatinib resistance. No other mutations were detected in patients with relapse.

The overall survival rate was 97.6% at 6 months and 87.5% at 1 year.

“The fast and deep reduction of the disease burden in the majority of patients, the ability of ponatinib to prevent the emergence of clones harboring BCR-ABL mutations, and the synthetic lethality with steroids on the BCR-ABL, FLT3, HCK, CDK6, MCL1 pathway most likely explain the therapeutic effectiveness of this regimen,” Dr Martinelli said.

He also said steroids and ponatinib were well-tolerated, with 15 patients continuing treatment at 24 weeks.

Of 75 adverse events (AEs), 36 were related to ponatinib. There were 26 serious AEs, and 13 of them were related to ponatinib.

Serious cardiovascular AEs included arterial disorders (n=3), embolism (n=2), acute coronary syndrome (n=2), acute myocardial infarction (n=1), cardiac failure (n=1), pericardial effusion (n=1), and ischemia (n=1).

Ten deaths were reported. The causes were identified as progression (n=4), cardiovascular disease (n=3), toxicity (n=1), toxicity and progression (n=1), and unknown cause (n=1).

Dr Martinelli reported no disclosures.

*Data in the presentation differ from the abstract.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—Results of a phase 2 trial suggest treatment with ponatinib and steroids is feasible for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are elderly and/or unfit for intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

More than 90% of patients who received this combination had a complete hematologic response at 24 weeks, and the treatment was considered well-tolerated.

“Ponatinib plus steroids is safe and effective in this fragile patient population, which is in urgent need of better therapeutic regimens,” said Giovanni Martinelli, MD, of the University of Bologna in Italy.

Dr Martinelli presented these findings at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 99*).

The trial (GIMEMA LAL 1811) was designed to evaluate whether steroids and ponatinib would be safe and effective in patients with newly diagnosed, Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL who were older than 60 or ineligible for intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

The study included 42 such patients. Their median age was 68 (range, 27-85). Nine patients were younger than 60 and unfit.

Sixty-two percent of patients had the p190 fusion transcript, 10% had p210, and 29% had p190/210 transcripts.

Patients received oral ponatinib (45 mg/day) for 8 consecutive 6-week courses. They also received steroids from day -14 to day 29 of course 1.

Patients received intrathecal methotrexate, cytarabine, and dexamethasone every 28 days for central nervous system (CNS) disease prophylaxis. If they were positive for CNS disease at diagnosis, patients received intrathecal therapy twice a week until complete remission.

The median follow-up was 17.2 months.

Results

Thirty-nine patients received steroid pretreatment, and 14 of them had a reduction in circulating blasts of 75% or more before starting ponatinib.

The study’s primary endpoint was complete hematologic response, which occurred in 95.2% of patients at 6 weeks and 90.5% at 24 weeks.

Based on test sensitivity of at least 10,000 ABL molecules, 60.6% of evaluable patients (20/33) had a complete molecular response at 24 weeks.

One patient with relapse had evidence of T315L mutations, which correlates with ponatinib resistance. No other mutations were detected in patients with relapse.

The overall survival rate was 97.6% at 6 months and 87.5% at 1 year.

“The fast and deep reduction of the disease burden in the majority of patients, the ability of ponatinib to prevent the emergence of clones harboring BCR-ABL mutations, and the synthetic lethality with steroids on the BCR-ABL, FLT3, HCK, CDK6, MCL1 pathway most likely explain the therapeutic effectiveness of this regimen,” Dr Martinelli said.

He also said steroids and ponatinib were well-tolerated, with 15 patients continuing treatment at 24 weeks.

Of 75 adverse events (AEs), 36 were related to ponatinib. There were 26 serious AEs, and 13 of them were related to ponatinib.

Serious cardiovascular AEs included arterial disorders (n=3), embolism (n=2), acute coronary syndrome (n=2), acute myocardial infarction (n=1), cardiac failure (n=1), pericardial effusion (n=1), and ischemia (n=1).

Ten deaths were reported. The causes were identified as progression (n=4), cardiovascular disease (n=3), toxicity (n=1), toxicity and progression (n=1), and unknown cause (n=1).

Dr Martinelli reported no disclosures.

*Data in the presentation differ from the abstract.

ATLANTA – Adding the targeted agent sorafenib (Nexavar) to standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy in adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) significantly extended event-free survival out to more than 6 years and improved relapse-free survival, updated results from the SORAML trial showed.

At a median follow-up of 78 months, median event-free survival (EFS) – the primary endpoint – was 26 months in the chemotherapy plus sorafenib arm, compared with 9 months for chemotherapy plus placebo; these results translate to a hazard ratio for progression or death with sorafenib of 0.68 (P = .011), reported Christoph Röllig, MD, MSc, of University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany.

SOURCE: Röllig C et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 721.

ATLANTA – Adding the targeted agent sorafenib (Nexavar) to standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy in adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) significantly extended event-free survival out to more than 6 years and improved relapse-free survival, updated results from the SORAML trial showed.

At a median follow-up of 78 months, median event-free survival (EFS) – the primary endpoint – was 26 months in the chemotherapy plus sorafenib arm, compared with 9 months for chemotherapy plus placebo; these results translate to a hazard ratio for progression or death with sorafenib of 0.68 (P = .011), reported Christoph Röllig, MD, MSc, of University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany.

SOURCE: Röllig C et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 721.

ATLANTA – Adding the targeted agent sorafenib (Nexavar) to standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy in adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) significantly extended event-free survival out to more than 6 years and improved relapse-free survival, updated results from the SORAML trial showed.

At a median follow-up of 78 months, median event-free survival (EFS) – the primary endpoint – was 26 months in the chemotherapy plus sorafenib arm, compared with 9 months for chemotherapy plus placebo; these results translate to a hazard ratio for progression or death with sorafenib of 0.68 (P = .011), reported Christoph Röllig, MD, MSc, of University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany.

SOURCE: Röllig C et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 721.

ATLANTA – Closely monitoring for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and starting anticytokine therapy early can prevent life-threatening organ toxicities in recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, according to Daniel W. Lee III, MD.

There’s no evidence that early anticytokine therapy impairs antitumor response, he noted. “If you wait to give anticytokine therapy until a patient is intubated, it’s too late,” Dr. Lee said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. “If you wait until a patient has been hypotensive for days, it’s probably too late. If you intervene earlier, you can avoid intubation.”

ATLANTA – Closely monitoring for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and starting anticytokine therapy early can prevent life-threatening organ toxicities in recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, according to Daniel W. Lee III, MD.

There’s no evidence that early anticytokine therapy impairs antitumor response, he noted. “If you wait to give anticytokine therapy until a patient is intubated, it’s too late,” Dr. Lee said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. “If you wait until a patient has been hypotensive for days, it’s probably too late. If you intervene earlier, you can avoid intubation.”

ATLANTA – Closely monitoring for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and starting anticytokine therapy early can prevent life-threatening organ toxicities in recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, according to Daniel W. Lee III, MD.

There’s no evidence that early anticytokine therapy impairs antitumor response, he noted. “If you wait to give anticytokine therapy until a patient is intubated, it’s too late,” Dr. Lee said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. “If you wait until a patient has been hypotensive for days, it’s probably too late. If you intervene earlier, you can avoid intubation.”

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—A population-based study indicates that, compared to other cancer survivors, patients who survive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have an increased risk of autoimmune and infectious diseases.

For example, investigators found the risk of being diagnosed with impaired humoral immunity was 16.2 times higher in female DLBCL survivors than in breast cancer survivors, 14.8 times higher in male DLBCL survivors than in prostate cancer survivors, and 12.5 times higher in all DLBCL survivors than in survivors of head and neck cancer.

“Most of the treatments that we give for lymphoma have profound effects on the immune system, either directly or indirectly, including many of the T-cell-directed therapies,” said Tanaya Shree, MD, PhD, of Stanford University Medical Center in California.

“There have been studies on many of the effects suffered by lymphoma survivors, but very little is known about their immune health.”

Dr Shree and her colleagues undertook this study to determine how the immune system fares in lymphoma survivors. The investigators limited their analysis to survivors of DLBCL.

Dr Shree presented the findings at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 198*).

Study design

Investigators pulled data from the California Cancer Registry for patients with DLBCL as their first primary cancer diagnosed between 1991 and 2012. Patients had to be 18 or older at diagnosis and have survived more than a year after diagnosis.

“Importantly, we counted only diagnoses [of autoimmune and infectious diseases] that first appeared between 1 and 10 years after cancer diagnosis,” Dr Shree explained. “So any diagnosis we saw that had also been seen prior to cancer diagnosis or even up to 1 year post-cancer diagnosis, we considered to be pre-existing and were excluded from the analysis in order to really focus on new incident cases during survivorship.”

Investigators used the same criteria for the comparator cohorts.

The survivor data was linked to statewide discharge databases, and investigators performed the incidence analysis based on ICD-9 codes.

Investigators used Poisson regression analysis to obtain incident ratios and adjusted the models for age, race, and year of diagnosis.

They graphed the incident rate ratios for all the diagnoses that were significantly different between the DLBCL cohort and the comparator cohorts.

“[W]e considered a P value of less than 0.0005 to be significant,” Dr Shree clarified.

Survivor characteristics

The cohorts comprised 802,255 survivors of DLBCL (n=21,690), breast cancer (n=337,591), prostate cancer (n=325,533), melanoma (n=73,196), and head and neck cancer (n=44,245).

“At least 75% of patients in each cohort were aged 40 to 79,” Dr Shree noted, “with a good representation of elderly patients.”

The median follow-up time was 6.1 years for DLBCL patients and ranged from 5.7 years for head and neck cancer survivors to 8.3 years for prostate cancer survivors.

About three-quarters of patients in each cohort had hospitalization data within 1 to 10 years from cancer diagnosis.

DLBCL vs breast cancer

“Interestingly, we found some familiar names amongst the top-scoring diagnoses,” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (16.2-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (9.9-fold), Sicca syndrome (6.9-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (3.1-fold) were higher in female DLBCL survivors than breast cancer survivors.

“All of these have known associations with lymphoma,” Dr Shree said. “But we also found, surprisingly, increased rates of fungal [6.0-fold] and viral pneumonia [3.3-fold], and many other codes associated with respiratory infections. We also found a 3-fold increased rate of meningitis.”

“The only diagnosis statistically more common amongst breast cancer patients was cervicitis and endocervicitis, and this likely relates to the fact that many of these patients are undergoing hormone therapy.”

DLBCL vs prostate cancer

“We saw some of the same diagnoses come up as top-scoring hits, including viral [4.5-fold] and fungal pneumonia [8.2-fold], and meningitis [3.9-fold], and, in this case, Staphylococcal meningitis [8.6-fold],” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (14.8-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (8.9-fold), Sicca syndrome (8.6-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (4.8-fold) were also higher in the male DLBCL survivors than in prostate cancer survivors.

“No diagnoses were statistically more common in the prostate cancer survivors [than in male DLBCL survivors],” Dr Shree noted.

DLBCL vs head and neck cancer

“Again, the top 4 hits were the same 4 diagnoses we have been seeing repeatedly,” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (12.5-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (9.3-fold), Sicca syndrome (5.5-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (4.5-fold) were increased for DLBCL survivors compared to survivors of head and neck cancer.

DLBCL survivors also had an increased risk of respiratory infections, especially viral (4.4-fold) and fungal pneumonias (4.0-fold), meningitis (3.0-fold), and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (2.8-fold), also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

On the other hand, bacterial pneumonias and skin infections were more common in the head and neck cancer survivors than in DLBCL survivors.

DLBCL vs melanoma

“Interestingly, we did not see an increased risk for immune thrombocytopenias [in DLBCL survivors] compared to melanoma survivors in this comparison, which we had in all the other comparisons,” Dr Shree noted.

“But we did see [an increased risk for] the other diagnoses that we had been tracking, including, again, fungal pneumonia [6.9-fold], viral pneumonia [4.7-fold], and miscellaneous viral infections [2.6-fold].”

The only diagnosis that was statistically more common among melanoma survivors than DLBCL survivors was vitiligo.

Risks persist over time

The investigators assessed whether the elevated risks were static over the 1- to 10-year analysis period.

They took the top diagnoses—humoral deficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Sicca syndrome, and immune thrombocytopenia—and reviewed them for all cohorts to determine the rate of new cases.

“[F]or 3 out of these 4 diagnoses [humoral deficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and Sicca syndrome], increased incident rates are highest in the first 1 to 3 years after diagnosis in the lymphoma patients,” Dr Shree said.

“But even at 5 to 10 years out, these patients continue to have increased incidence of these diagnoses compared to the other cohorts, suggesting that these risks really do remain elevated over some time.”

The investigators repeated the analysis using broader categories of diagnoses with each category encompassing many ICD-9 codes.

“[I]n 12 out of 18 broad categories that we looked at, we can still find statistically significant differences in the incident rates for these diagnoses, and they were all increased in the lymphoma patients compared to the other cohorts,” Dr Shree explained.

“[T]hese increases were seen across multiple comparisons, suggesting that this phenomenon seems to be really lymphoma-specific and not specific to any of the individual comparisons we had chosen to perform.”

The findings, she said, have a lot of implications.

“We are particularly interested in which features of patients’ treatment contribute most to these elevated risks,” Dr Shree said. “And, of course, we want to know what to be able to tell our patients and how to follow them during survivorship.”

The investigators are currently validating their findings with further analysis of the Stanford lymphoma survivors cohort of approximately 3500 patients.

*Data in the abstract differ from the presentation.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—A population-based study indicates that, compared to other cancer survivors, patients who survive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have an increased risk of autoimmune and infectious diseases.

For example, investigators found the risk of being diagnosed with impaired humoral immunity was 16.2 times higher in female DLBCL survivors than in breast cancer survivors, 14.8 times higher in male DLBCL survivors than in prostate cancer survivors, and 12.5 times higher in all DLBCL survivors than in survivors of head and neck cancer.

“Most of the treatments that we give for lymphoma have profound effects on the immune system, either directly or indirectly, including many of the T-cell-directed therapies,” said Tanaya Shree, MD, PhD, of Stanford University Medical Center in California.

“There have been studies on many of the effects suffered by lymphoma survivors, but very little is known about their immune health.”

Dr Shree and her colleagues undertook this study to determine how the immune system fares in lymphoma survivors. The investigators limited their analysis to survivors of DLBCL.

Dr Shree presented the findings at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 198*).

Study design

Investigators pulled data from the California Cancer Registry for patients with DLBCL as their first primary cancer diagnosed between 1991 and 2012. Patients had to be 18 or older at diagnosis and have survived more than a year after diagnosis.

“Importantly, we counted only diagnoses [of autoimmune and infectious diseases] that first appeared between 1 and 10 years after cancer diagnosis,” Dr Shree explained. “So any diagnosis we saw that had also been seen prior to cancer diagnosis or even up to 1 year post-cancer diagnosis, we considered to be pre-existing and were excluded from the analysis in order to really focus on new incident cases during survivorship.”

Investigators used the same criteria for the comparator cohorts.

The survivor data was linked to statewide discharge databases, and investigators performed the incidence analysis based on ICD-9 codes.

Investigators used Poisson regression analysis to obtain incident ratios and adjusted the models for age, race, and year of diagnosis.

They graphed the incident rate ratios for all the diagnoses that were significantly different between the DLBCL cohort and the comparator cohorts.

“[W]e considered a P value of less than 0.0005 to be significant,” Dr Shree clarified.

Survivor characteristics

The cohorts comprised 802,255 survivors of DLBCL (n=21,690), breast cancer (n=337,591), prostate cancer (n=325,533), melanoma (n=73,196), and head and neck cancer (n=44,245).

“At least 75% of patients in each cohort were aged 40 to 79,” Dr Shree noted, “with a good representation of elderly patients.”

The median follow-up time was 6.1 years for DLBCL patients and ranged from 5.7 years for head and neck cancer survivors to 8.3 years for prostate cancer survivors.

About three-quarters of patients in each cohort had hospitalization data within 1 to 10 years from cancer diagnosis.

DLBCL vs breast cancer

“Interestingly, we found some familiar names amongst the top-scoring diagnoses,” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (16.2-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (9.9-fold), Sicca syndrome (6.9-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (3.1-fold) were higher in female DLBCL survivors than breast cancer survivors.

“All of these have known associations with lymphoma,” Dr Shree said. “But we also found, surprisingly, increased rates of fungal [6.0-fold] and viral pneumonia [3.3-fold], and many other codes associated with respiratory infections. We also found a 3-fold increased rate of meningitis.”

“The only diagnosis statistically more common amongst breast cancer patients was cervicitis and endocervicitis, and this likely relates to the fact that many of these patients are undergoing hormone therapy.”

DLBCL vs prostate cancer

“We saw some of the same diagnoses come up as top-scoring hits, including viral [4.5-fold] and fungal pneumonia [8.2-fold], and meningitis [3.9-fold], and, in this case, Staphylococcal meningitis [8.6-fold],” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (14.8-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (8.9-fold), Sicca syndrome (8.6-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (4.8-fold) were also higher in the male DLBCL survivors than in prostate cancer survivors.

“No diagnoses were statistically more common in the prostate cancer survivors [than in male DLBCL survivors],” Dr Shree noted.

DLBCL vs head and neck cancer

“Again, the top 4 hits were the same 4 diagnoses we have been seeing repeatedly,” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (12.5-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (9.3-fold), Sicca syndrome (5.5-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (4.5-fold) were increased for DLBCL survivors compared to survivors of head and neck cancer.

DLBCL survivors also had an increased risk of respiratory infections, especially viral (4.4-fold) and fungal pneumonias (4.0-fold), meningitis (3.0-fold), and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (2.8-fold), also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

On the other hand, bacterial pneumonias and skin infections were more common in the head and neck cancer survivors than in DLBCL survivors.

DLBCL vs melanoma

“Interestingly, we did not see an increased risk for immune thrombocytopenias [in DLBCL survivors] compared to melanoma survivors in this comparison, which we had in all the other comparisons,” Dr Shree noted.

“But we did see [an increased risk for] the other diagnoses that we had been tracking, including, again, fungal pneumonia [6.9-fold], viral pneumonia [4.7-fold], and miscellaneous viral infections [2.6-fold].”

The only diagnosis that was statistically more common among melanoma survivors than DLBCL survivors was vitiligo.

Risks persist over time

The investigators assessed whether the elevated risks were static over the 1- to 10-year analysis period.

They took the top diagnoses—humoral deficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Sicca syndrome, and immune thrombocytopenia—and reviewed them for all cohorts to determine the rate of new cases.

“[F]or 3 out of these 4 diagnoses [humoral deficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and Sicca syndrome], increased incident rates are highest in the first 1 to 3 years after diagnosis in the lymphoma patients,” Dr Shree said.

“But even at 5 to 10 years out, these patients continue to have increased incidence of these diagnoses compared to the other cohorts, suggesting that these risks really do remain elevated over some time.”

The investigators repeated the analysis using broader categories of diagnoses with each category encompassing many ICD-9 codes.

“[I]n 12 out of 18 broad categories that we looked at, we can still find statistically significant differences in the incident rates for these diagnoses, and they were all increased in the lymphoma patients compared to the other cohorts,” Dr Shree explained.

“[T]hese increases were seen across multiple comparisons, suggesting that this phenomenon seems to be really lymphoma-specific and not specific to any of the individual comparisons we had chosen to perform.”

The findings, she said, have a lot of implications.

“We are particularly interested in which features of patients’ treatment contribute most to these elevated risks,” Dr Shree said. “And, of course, we want to know what to be able to tell our patients and how to follow them during survivorship.”

The investigators are currently validating their findings with further analysis of the Stanford lymphoma survivors cohort of approximately 3500 patients.

*Data in the abstract differ from the presentation.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—A population-based study indicates that, compared to other cancer survivors, patients who survive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have an increased risk of autoimmune and infectious diseases.

For example, investigators found the risk of being diagnosed with impaired humoral immunity was 16.2 times higher in female DLBCL survivors than in breast cancer survivors, 14.8 times higher in male DLBCL survivors than in prostate cancer survivors, and 12.5 times higher in all DLBCL survivors than in survivors of head and neck cancer.

“Most of the treatments that we give for lymphoma have profound effects on the immune system, either directly or indirectly, including many of the T-cell-directed therapies,” said Tanaya Shree, MD, PhD, of Stanford University Medical Center in California.

“There have been studies on many of the effects suffered by lymphoma survivors, but very little is known about their immune health.”

Dr Shree and her colleagues undertook this study to determine how the immune system fares in lymphoma survivors. The investigators limited their analysis to survivors of DLBCL.

Dr Shree presented the findings at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 198*).

Study design

Investigators pulled data from the California Cancer Registry for patients with DLBCL as their first primary cancer diagnosed between 1991 and 2012. Patients had to be 18 or older at diagnosis and have survived more than a year after diagnosis.

“Importantly, we counted only diagnoses [of autoimmune and infectious diseases] that first appeared between 1 and 10 years after cancer diagnosis,” Dr Shree explained. “So any diagnosis we saw that had also been seen prior to cancer diagnosis or even up to 1 year post-cancer diagnosis, we considered to be pre-existing and were excluded from the analysis in order to really focus on new incident cases during survivorship.”

Investigators used the same criteria for the comparator cohorts.

The survivor data was linked to statewide discharge databases, and investigators performed the incidence analysis based on ICD-9 codes.

Investigators used Poisson regression analysis to obtain incident ratios and adjusted the models for age, race, and year of diagnosis.

They graphed the incident rate ratios for all the diagnoses that were significantly different between the DLBCL cohort and the comparator cohorts.

“[W]e considered a P value of less than 0.0005 to be significant,” Dr Shree clarified.

Survivor characteristics

The cohorts comprised 802,255 survivors of DLBCL (n=21,690), breast cancer (n=337,591), prostate cancer (n=325,533), melanoma (n=73,196), and head and neck cancer (n=44,245).

“At least 75% of patients in each cohort were aged 40 to 79,” Dr Shree noted, “with a good representation of elderly patients.”

The median follow-up time was 6.1 years for DLBCL patients and ranged from 5.7 years for head and neck cancer survivors to 8.3 years for prostate cancer survivors.

About three-quarters of patients in each cohort had hospitalization data within 1 to 10 years from cancer diagnosis.

DLBCL vs breast cancer

“Interestingly, we found some familiar names amongst the top-scoring diagnoses,” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (16.2-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (9.9-fold), Sicca syndrome (6.9-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (3.1-fold) were higher in female DLBCL survivors than breast cancer survivors.

“All of these have known associations with lymphoma,” Dr Shree said. “But we also found, surprisingly, increased rates of fungal [6.0-fold] and viral pneumonia [3.3-fold], and many other codes associated with respiratory infections. We also found a 3-fold increased rate of meningitis.”

“The only diagnosis statistically more common amongst breast cancer patients was cervicitis and endocervicitis, and this likely relates to the fact that many of these patients are undergoing hormone therapy.”

DLBCL vs prostate cancer

“We saw some of the same diagnoses come up as top-scoring hits, including viral [4.5-fold] and fungal pneumonia [8.2-fold], and meningitis [3.9-fold], and, in this case, Staphylococcal meningitis [8.6-fold],” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (14.8-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (8.9-fold), Sicca syndrome (8.6-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (4.8-fold) were also higher in the male DLBCL survivors than in prostate cancer survivors.

“No diagnoses were statistically more common in the prostate cancer survivors [than in male DLBCL survivors],” Dr Shree noted.

DLBCL vs head and neck cancer

“Again, the top 4 hits were the same 4 diagnoses we have been seeing repeatedly,” Dr Shree said.

Deficiency of humoral immunity (12.5-fold), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (9.3-fold), Sicca syndrome (5.5-fold), and immune thrombocytopenia (4.5-fold) were increased for DLBCL survivors compared to survivors of head and neck cancer.

DLBCL survivors also had an increased risk of respiratory infections, especially viral (4.4-fold) and fungal pneumonias (4.0-fold), meningitis (3.0-fold), and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (2.8-fold), also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

On the other hand, bacterial pneumonias and skin infections were more common in the head and neck cancer survivors than in DLBCL survivors.

DLBCL vs melanoma

“Interestingly, we did not see an increased risk for immune thrombocytopenias [in DLBCL survivors] compared to melanoma survivors in this comparison, which we had in all the other comparisons,” Dr Shree noted.

“But we did see [an increased risk for] the other diagnoses that we had been tracking, including, again, fungal pneumonia [6.9-fold], viral pneumonia [4.7-fold], and miscellaneous viral infections [2.6-fold].”

The only diagnosis that was statistically more common among melanoma survivors than DLBCL survivors was vitiligo.

Risks persist over time

The investigators assessed whether the elevated risks were static over the 1- to 10-year analysis period.

They took the top diagnoses—humoral deficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Sicca syndrome, and immune thrombocytopenia—and reviewed them for all cohorts to determine the rate of new cases.

“[F]or 3 out of these 4 diagnoses [humoral deficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and Sicca syndrome], increased incident rates are highest in the first 1 to 3 years after diagnosis in the lymphoma patients,” Dr Shree said.

“But even at 5 to 10 years out, these patients continue to have increased incidence of these diagnoses compared to the other cohorts, suggesting that these risks really do remain elevated over some time.”

The investigators repeated the analysis using broader categories of diagnoses with each category encompassing many ICD-9 codes.

“[I]n 12 out of 18 broad categories that we looked at, we can still find statistically significant differences in the incident rates for these diagnoses, and they were all increased in the lymphoma patients compared to the other cohorts,” Dr Shree explained.

“[T]hese increases were seen across multiple comparisons, suggesting that this phenomenon seems to be really lymphoma-specific and not specific to any of the individual comparisons we had chosen to perform.”

The findings, she said, have a lot of implications.

“We are particularly interested in which features of patients’ treatment contribute most to these elevated risks,” Dr Shree said. “And, of course, we want to know what to be able to tell our patients and how to follow them during survivorship.”

The investigators are currently validating their findings with further analysis of the Stanford lymphoma survivors cohort of approximately 3500 patients.

*Data in the abstract differ from the presentation.

ATLANTA – Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111), an investigational BTK inhibitor, was well tolerated and active as a single agent in patients with indolent and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Response rates ranged from 31% to 88% depending on the lymphoma subtype. Overall, approximately 10% of patients discontinued the drug because of adverse events, reported Constantine S. Tam, MBBS, MD, of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

“There was encouraging activity against all the spectrum of indolent and aggressive NHL subtypes … and durable responses were observed across a variety of histologies,” Dr. Tam said.

Zanubrutinib is a second-generation BTK inhibitor that, based on biochemical assays, has higher selectivity against BTK than ibrutinib, Dr. Tam said.

He presented results of an open-label, multicenter, phase 1b study of daily or twice-daily zanubrutinib in patients with B-cell malignancies, most of them relapsed or refractory to prior therapies. The lymphoma subtypes he presented included diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).

For 34 patients with indolent lymphomas (FL and MZL), the most frequent adverse events were petechiae/purpura/contusion and upper respiratory tract infection. Eleven grade 3-5 adverse events were reported, including neutropenia, infection, nausea, urinary tract infection, and abdominal pain.

Atrial fibrillation was observed in two patients in the aggressive NHL cohort, for an overall AF rate of approximately 2%, Dr. Tam said.

For 65 patients with aggressive lymphomas (DLBCL and MCL), the most frequent adverse events were petechiae/purpura/contusion and diarrhea; 27 grade 3-5 adverse events were reported, including neutropenia, pneumonia, and anemia.

The highest overall response rate reported was for MCL, at 88% (28 of 32 patients) followed by MZL at 78% (7 of 9 patients), FL at 41% (7 of 17 patients), and DLBCL 31% (8 of 26 patients).

The recommended phase 2 dose for zanubrutinib is either 320 mg/day once daily or a split dose of 160 mg twice daily, Dr. Tam said.

Based on this experience, investigators started a registration trial of zanubrutinib in combination with obinutuzumab for FL, and additional trials are planned, according to Dr. Tam.

There are also registration trials in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia based on other data suggesting activity of zanubrutinib in those disease types, he added.

Zanubrutinib is a product of BeiGene. Dr. Tam reported disclosures related to Roche, Janssen Cilag, Abbvie, Celgene, Pharmacyclics, Onyx, and Amgen.

SOURCE: Tam C et al, ASH 2017, Abstract 152

ATLANTA – Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111), an investigational BTK inhibitor, was well tolerated and active as a single agent in patients with indolent and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Response rates ranged from 31% to 88% depending on the lymphoma subtype. Overall, approximately 10% of patients discontinued the drug because of adverse events, reported Constantine S. Tam, MBBS, MD, of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

“There was encouraging activity against all the spectrum of indolent and aggressive NHL subtypes … and durable responses were observed across a variety of histologies,” Dr. Tam said.

Zanubrutinib is a second-generation BTK inhibitor that, based on biochemical assays, has higher selectivity against BTK than ibrutinib, Dr. Tam said.

He presented results of an open-label, multicenter, phase 1b study of daily or twice-daily zanubrutinib in patients with B-cell malignancies, most of them relapsed or refractory to prior therapies. The lymphoma subtypes he presented included diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).

For 34 patients with indolent lymphomas (FL and MZL), the most frequent adverse events were petechiae/purpura/contusion and upper respiratory tract infection. Eleven grade 3-5 adverse events were reported, including neutropenia, infection, nausea, urinary tract infection, and abdominal pain.

Atrial fibrillation was observed in two patients in the aggressive NHL cohort, for an overall AF rate of approximately 2%, Dr. Tam said.

For 65 patients with aggressive lymphomas (DLBCL and MCL), the most frequent adverse events were petechiae/purpura/contusion and diarrhea; 27 grade 3-5 adverse events were reported, including neutropenia, pneumonia, and anemia.

The highest overall response rate reported was for MCL, at 88% (28 of 32 patients) followed by MZL at 78% (7 of 9 patients), FL at 41% (7 of 17 patients), and DLBCL 31% (8 of 26 patients).

The recommended phase 2 dose for zanubrutinib is either 320 mg/day once daily or a split dose of 160 mg twice daily, Dr. Tam said.

Based on this experience, investigators started a registration trial of zanubrutinib in combination with obinutuzumab for FL, and additional trials are planned, according to Dr. Tam.

There are also registration trials in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia based on other data suggesting activity of zanubrutinib in those disease types, he added.

Zanubrutinib is a product of BeiGene. Dr. Tam reported disclosures related to Roche, Janssen Cilag, Abbvie, Celgene, Pharmacyclics, Onyx, and Amgen.

SOURCE: Tam C et al, ASH 2017, Abstract 152

ATLANTA – Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111), an investigational BTK inhibitor, was well tolerated and active as a single agent in patients with indolent and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Response rates ranged from 31% to 88% depending on the lymphoma subtype. Overall, approximately 10% of patients discontinued the drug because of adverse events, reported Constantine S. Tam, MBBS, MD, of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

“There was encouraging activity against all the spectrum of indolent and aggressive NHL subtypes … and durable responses were observed across a variety of histologies,” Dr. Tam said.

Zanubrutinib is a second-generation BTK inhibitor that, based on biochemical assays, has higher selectivity against BTK than ibrutinib, Dr. Tam said.

He presented results of an open-label, multicenter, phase 1b study of daily or twice-daily zanubrutinib in patients with B-cell malignancies, most of them relapsed or refractory to prior therapies. The lymphoma subtypes he presented included diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).

For 34 patients with indolent lymphomas (FL and MZL), the most frequent adverse events were petechiae/purpura/contusion and upper respiratory tract infection. Eleven grade 3-5 adverse events were reported, including neutropenia, infection, nausea, urinary tract infection, and abdominal pain.

Atrial fibrillation was observed in two patients in the aggressive NHL cohort, for an overall AF rate of approximately 2%, Dr. Tam said.

For 65 patients with aggressive lymphomas (DLBCL and MCL), the most frequent adverse events were petechiae/purpura/contusion and diarrhea; 27 grade 3-5 adverse events were reported, including neutropenia, pneumonia, and anemia.

The highest overall response rate reported was for MCL, at 88% (28 of 32 patients) followed by MZL at 78% (7 of 9 patients), FL at 41% (7 of 17 patients), and DLBCL 31% (8 of 26 patients).

The recommended phase 2 dose for zanubrutinib is either 320 mg/day once daily or a split dose of 160 mg twice daily, Dr. Tam said.

Based on this experience, investigators started a registration trial of zanubrutinib in combination with obinutuzumab for FL, and additional trials are planned, according to Dr. Tam.

There are also registration trials in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia based on other data suggesting activity of zanubrutinib in those disease types, he added.

Zanubrutinib is a product of BeiGene. Dr. Tam reported disclosures related to Roche, Janssen Cilag, Abbvie, Celgene, Pharmacyclics, Onyx, and Amgen.

SOURCE: Tam C et al, ASH 2017, Abstract 152

ATLANTA – In patients with previously treated immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, daratumumab monotherapy produced deep, rapid hematologic responses, based on initial results from a phase 2 trial.

So far, the response rate is about twice the rate seen with daratumumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, Murielle Roussel, MD, of IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France, said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. “We observed deep and rapid clonal responses, even after the first infusion.”

Amy Karon/Frontline Medical News

SOURCES: Sanchorawala V et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 507; Roussel M et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 508.

ATLANTA – In patients with previously treated immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, daratumumab monotherapy produced deep, rapid hematologic responses, based on initial results from a phase 2 trial.

So far, the response rate is about twice the rate seen with daratumumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, Murielle Roussel, MD, of IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France, said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. “We observed deep and rapid clonal responses, even after the first infusion.”

Amy Karon/Frontline Medical News

SOURCES: Sanchorawala V et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 507; Roussel M et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 508.

ATLANTA – In patients with previously treated immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, daratumumab monotherapy produced deep, rapid hematologic responses, based on initial results from a phase 2 trial.

So far, the response rate is about twice the rate seen with daratumumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, Murielle Roussel, MD, of IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France, said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. “We observed deep and rapid clonal responses, even after the first infusion.”

Amy Karon/Frontline Medical News

SOURCES: Sanchorawala V et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 507; Roussel M et al. ASH 2017 Abstract 508.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—Adding ixazomib to lenalidomide as maintenance therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients after upfront autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) appears promising, according to an update of a phase 2 study.

The oral doublet produced an overall response rate of 90% and an estimated 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 81%.

The incidence of peripheral neuropathy was mostly limited to grade 1/2 events, and hematologic adverse events were manageable with dose reductions.

Krina K. Patel, MD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, presented these results at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 437*).

Dr Patel and her colleagues conducted a single-arm, phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding ixazomib to lenalidomide maintenance in MM patients after ASCT.

“[O]ur phase 2 hypothesis was that ixazomib would provide a safe, more effective, and more convenient alternative maintenance therapy, which would allow better quality of life and improve PFS when combined with lenalidomide,” Dr Patel said.

Study design

Patients had to have received ASCT within 12 months of induction therapy in order to be eligible for the study.

Maintenance therapy was initiated within 60 to 180 days after transplant. It  consisted of 28-day cycles of ixazomib at 4 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 and lenalidomide at 10 mg daily on days 1 to 28.

After 3 months, patients’ lenalidomide dose could increase to 15 mg if they tolerated the drug.

Investigators amended the protocol during the first year of the study to reduce the dose of ixazomib to 3 mg.

“Based on other studies at the time,” Dr Patel explained, “they showed increased neutropenia with the higher dose of ixazomib.”

Patient characteristics

The investigators enrolled 64 evaluable patients from December 2012 to June 2015. They had a median age of 60 (range, 39 – 74).

Forty-two patients (66%) were male, and 22 were female.

Thirty-three had ISS stage I disease, 13 had stage II, and 9 had stage III. Fourteen patients (21.8%) had high-risk disease.

At the time of the presentation, 34 patients (52%) remained on therapy. As of September 2017, patients had received a median of 30 cycles of maintenance therapy (range, 1 – 55).

Safety

Forty-eight patients (75%) had neuropathy at enrollment. Most of these patients had received bortezomib-based induction therapy, Dr Patel explained.

Twenty-two patients (34%) had grade 1/2 peripheral neuropathy at last follow-up, and 6 patients (9%) had grade 3.

Baseline neuropathy worsened in 6 patients, and this necessitated dose reductions. One patient had new-onset neuropathy, also requiring dose reduction. And 8 patients had new-onset neuropathy that did not require dose reductions.

“Most of these patients had a break [in therapy] of about 2 to 8 weeks,” Dr Patel noted, “and were able to either go back on a lower dose versus stopping the therapy.”

Three patients had a secondary primary malignancy: 1 with breast ductal carcinoma in situ and 2 with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Other grade 3 adverse events included: anemia (3%), neutropenia (41%), thrombocytopenia (6%), elevated liver enzymes (11%), back pain (3%), constipation (6%), elevated creatinine (1.6%), nausea/vomiting (11%), diarrhea (9%), fatigue (11%), rash (13%), peripheral neuropathy (9%), myalgia (5%), urinary tract infection (5%), and upper respiratory tract infection/pneumonia (36%).

Grade 4 adverse events included neutropenia (5%), thrombocytopenia (8%), and respiratory failure (1.6%).

Thirty patients are off study, 16 due to progressive disease, 3 at the investigator’s discretion, and 11 withdrew their consent.

Eight of the 16 patients who progressed had high-risk disease. Among the 16, the median PFS was 17 months (range, 3 – 43).

Seven patients died with an overall survival of 4 months (n=1), 16 months (n=2), 20 months (n=2), or 48 months (n=2).

Dose reductions

Sixteen patients started ixazomib at a dose of 4 mg, and 48 started at 3 mg.

Fifteen patients had their ixazomib dose reduced to 2.4 mg due to peripheral neuropathy (n=8), neutropenia (n=3), hearing loss (n=2), rash (n=1), or thrombocytopenia (n=1).

Five patients had a second dose reduction to 1.5 mg due to neuropathy (n=3), neutropenia (n=1), or thrombocytopenia (n=1).

Four patients who required a third dose reduction for neuropathy (n=2), neutropenia (n=1), and thrombocytopenia (n=1) went off study.

All patients started lenalidomide at 10 mg for 28 days.

Twenty-four patients required a lenalidomide dose reduction. Fifteen patients stayed at 10 mg but for 21 of 28 days, and 9 patients reduced to 5 mg for 28 days.

Reasons for these reductions were neutropenia (n=12), rash (n=4), thrombocytopenia (n=3), fatigue (n=2), memory impairment (n=1), infection (n=1), and pruritis (n=1).

Five patients required a second dose reduction to 5 mg for 21 of 28 days. Reasons for these reductions were neutropenia (n=2), neuropathy (n=1), thrombocytopenia (n=1), and fatigue (n=1).

“There are about 10 patients who did not have any ixazomib reductions that needed lenalidomide reductions, mostly for the pancytopenia,” Dr Patel noted.

Efficacy

Fifty-six percent of patients achieved a very good partial response, 26% a complete response (CR), 8% a stringent CR, and 10% a partial response.

Twenty-nine patients (45%) experienced an improvement in their best overall response from post-transplant baseline.

The median time to response was 10.1 months. The median duration of response has not yet been reached. Investigators estimated the 4-year duration of response to be 62%.

At a median follow-up of 38.2 months, the median PFS had not yet been reached. Investigators estimated the 2-year PFS to be 81%.

The median PFS for patients with high-risk disease is 21.85 months.

Based on these results, the investigators believe ixazomib-lenalidomide maintenance is safe, feasible, and well-tolerated and should be further explored in phase 3 studies.

Dr Patel has received research funding from and served on an advisory committee for Pfizer. She has consulted for Juno and Celgene.

The study was supported by Takeda Oncology.

* Data in the presentation differ slightly from the abstract.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—Adding ixazomib to lenalidomide as maintenance therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients after upfront autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) appears promising, according to an update of a phase 2 study.

The oral doublet produced an overall response rate of 90% and an estimated 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 81%.

The incidence of peripheral neuropathy was mostly limited to grade 1/2 events, and hematologic adverse events were manageable with dose reductions.

Krina K. Patel, MD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, presented these results at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 437*).

Dr Patel and her colleagues conducted a single-arm, phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding ixazomib to lenalidomide maintenance in MM patients after ASCT.

“[O]ur phase 2 hypothesis was that ixazomib would provide a safe, more effective, and more convenient alternative maintenance therapy, which would allow better quality of life and improve PFS when combined with lenalidomide,” Dr Patel said.

Study design

Patients had to have received ASCT within 12 months of induction therapy in order to be eligible for the study.

Maintenance therapy was initiated within 60 to 180 days after transplant. It  consisted of 28-day cycles of ixazomib at 4 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 and lenalidomide at 10 mg daily on days 1 to 28.

After 3 months, patients’ lenalidomide dose could increase to 15 mg if they tolerated the drug.

Investigators amended the protocol during the first year of the study to reduce the dose of ixazomib to 3 mg.

“Based on other studies at the time,” Dr Patel explained, “they showed increased neutropenia with the higher dose of ixazomib.”

Patient characteristics

The investigators enrolled 64 evaluable patients from December 2012 to June 2015. They had a median age of 60 (range, 39 – 74).

Forty-two patients (66%) were male, and 22 were female.

Thirty-three had ISS stage I disease, 13 had stage II, and 9 had stage III. Fourteen patients (21.8%) had high-risk disease.

At the time of the presentation, 34 patients (52%) remained on therapy. As of September 2017, patients had received a median of 30 cycles of maintenance therapy (range, 1 – 55).

Safety

Forty-eight patients (75%) had neuropathy at enrollment. Most of these patients had received bortezomib-based induction therapy, Dr Patel explained.

Twenty-two patients (34%) had grade 1/2 peripheral neuropathy at last follow-up, and 6 patients (9%) had grade 3.

Baseline neuropathy worsened in 6 patients, and this necessitated dose reductions. One patient had new-onset neuropathy, also requiring dose reduction. And 8 patients had new-onset neuropathy that did not require dose reductions.

“Most of these patients had a break [in therapy] of about 2 to 8 weeks,” Dr Patel noted, “and were able to either go back on a lower dose versus stopping the therapy.”

Three patients had a secondary primary malignancy: 1 with breast ductal carcinoma in situ and 2 with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Other grade 3 adverse events included: anemia (3%), neutropenia (41%), thrombocytopenia (6%), elevated liver enzymes (11%), back pain (3%), constipation (6%), elevated creatinine (1.6%), nausea/vomiting (11%), diarrhea (9%), fatigue (11%), rash (13%), peripheral neuropathy (9%), myalgia (5%), urinary tract infection (5%), and upper respiratory tract infection/pneumonia (36%).

Grade 4 adverse events included neutropenia (5%), thrombocytopenia (8%), and respiratory failure (1.6%).

Thirty patients are off study, 16 due to progressive disease, 3 at the investigator’s discretion, and 11 withdrew their consent.

Eight of the 16 patients who progressed had high-risk disease. Among the 16, the median PFS was 17 months (range, 3 – 43).

Seven patients died with an overall survival of 4 months (n=1), 16 months (n=2), 20 months (n=2), or 48 months (n=2).

Dose reductions

Sixteen patients started ixazomib at a dose of 4 mg, and 48 started at 3 mg.

Fifteen patients had their ixazomib dose reduced to 2.4 mg due to peripheral neuropathy (n=8), neutropenia (n=3), hearing loss (n=2), rash (n=1), or thrombocytopenia (n=1).

Five patients had a second dose reduction to 1.5 mg due to neuropathy (n=3), neutropenia (n=1), or thrombocytopenia (n=1).

Four patients who required a third dose reduction for neuropathy (n=2), neutropenia (n=1), and thrombocytopenia (n=1) went off study.

All patients started lenalidomide at 10 mg for 28 days.

Twenty-four patients required a lenalidomide dose reduction. Fifteen patients stayed at 10 mg but for 21 of 28 days, and 9 patients reduced to 5 mg for 28 days.

Reasons for these reductions were neutropenia (n=12), rash (n=4), thrombocytopenia (n=3), fatigue (n=2), memory impairment (n=1), infection (n=1), and pruritis (n=1).

Five patients required a second dose reduction to 5 mg for 21 of 28 days. Reasons for these reductions were neutropenia (n=2), neuropathy (n=1), thrombocytopenia (n=1), and fatigue (n=1).

“There are about 10 patients who did not have any ixazomib reductions that needed lenalidomide reductions, mostly for the pancytopenia,” Dr Patel noted.

Efficacy

Fifty-six percent of patients achieved a very good partial response, 26% a complete response (CR), 8% a stringent CR, and 10% a partial response.

Twenty-nine patients (45%) experienced an improvement in their best overall response from post-transplant baseline.

The median time to response was 10.1 months. The median duration of response has not yet been reached. Investigators estimated the 4-year duration of response to be 62%.

At a median follow-up of 38.2 months, the median PFS had not yet been reached. Investigators estimated the 2-year PFS to be 81%.

The median PFS for patients with high-risk disease is 21.85 months.

Based on these results, the investigators believe ixazomib-lenalidomide maintenance is safe, feasible, and well-tolerated and should be further explored in phase 3 studies.

Dr Patel has received research funding from and served on an advisory committee for Pfizer. She has consulted for Juno and Celgene.

The study was supported by Takeda Oncology.

* Data in the presentation differ slightly from the abstract.

© Todd Buchanan 2017

ATLANTA—Adding ixazomib to lenalidomide as maintenance therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients after upfront autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) appears promising, according to an update of a phase 2 study.

The oral doublet produced an overall response rate of 90% and an estimated 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 81%.

The incidence of peripheral neuropathy was mostly limited to grade 1/2 events, and hematologic adverse events were manageable with dose reductions.

Krina K. Patel, MD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, presented these results at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting (abstract 437*).

Dr Patel and her colleagues conducted a single-arm, phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding ixazomib to lenalidomide maintenance in MM patients after ASCT.

“[O]ur phase 2 hypothesis was that ixazomib would provide a safe, more effective, and more convenient alternative maintenance therapy, which would allow better quality of life and improve PFS when combined with lenalidomide,” Dr Patel said.

Study design

Patients had to have received ASCT within 12 months of induction therapy in order to be eligible for the study.

Maintenance therapy was initiated within 60 to 180 days after transplant. It  consisted of 28-day cycles of ixazomib at 4 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 and lenalidomide at 10 mg daily on days 1 to 28.

After 3 months, patients’ lenalidomide dose could increase to 15 mg if they tolerated the drug.

Investigators amended the protocol during the first year of the study to reduce the dose of ixazomib to 3 mg.

“Based on other studies at the time,” Dr Patel explained, “they showed increased neutropenia with the higher dose of ixazomib.”

Patient characteristics

The investigators enrolled 64 evaluable patients from December 2012 to June 2015. They had a median age of 60 (range, 39 – 74).

Forty-two patients (66%) were male, and 22 were female.

Thirty-three had ISS stage I disease, 13 had stage II, and 9 had stage III. Fourteen patients (21.8%) had high-risk disease.

At the time of the presentation, 34 patients (52%) remained on therapy. As of September 2017, patients had received a median of 30 cycles of maintenance therapy (range, 1 – 55).

Safety

Forty-eight patients (75%) had neuropathy at enrollment. Most of these patients had received bortezomib-based induction therapy, Dr Patel explained.

Twenty-two patients (34%) had grade 1/2 peripheral neuropathy at last follow-up, and 6 patients (9%) had grade 3.

Baseline neuropathy worsened in 6 patients, and this necessitated dose reductions. One patient had new-onset neuropathy, also requiring dose reduction. And 8 patients had new-onset neuropathy that did not require dose reductions.

“Most of these patients had a break [in therapy] of about 2 to 8 weeks,” Dr Patel noted, “and were able to either go back on a lower dose versus stopping the therapy.”

Three patients had a secondary primary malignancy: 1 with breast ductal carcinoma in situ and 2 with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Other grade 3 adverse events included: anemia (3%), neutropenia (41%), thrombocytopenia (6%), elevated liver enzymes (11%), back pain (3%), constipation (6%), elevated creatinine (1.6%), nausea/vomiting (11%), diarrhea (9%), fatigue (11%), rash (13%), peripheral neuropathy (9%), myalgia (5%), urinary tract infection (5%), and upper respiratory tract infection/pneumonia (36%).

Grade 4 adverse events included neutropenia (5%), thrombocytopenia (8%), and respiratory failure (1.6%).

Thirty patients are off study, 16 due to progressive disease, 3 at the investigator’s discretion, and 11 withdrew their consent.

Eight of the 16 patients who progressed had high-risk disease. Among the 16, the median PFS was 17 months (range, 3 – 43).

Seven patients died with an overall survival of 4 months (n=1), 16 months (n=2), 20 months (n=2), or 48 months (n=2).

Dose reductions

Sixteen patients started ixazomib at a dose of 4 mg, and 48 started at 3 mg.

Fifteen patients had their ixazomib dose reduced to 2.4 mg due to peripheral neuropathy (n=8), neutropenia (n=3), hearing loss (n=2), rash (n=1), or thrombocytopenia (n=1).

Five patients had a second dose reduction to 1.5 mg due to neuropathy (n=3), neutropenia (n=1), or thrombocytopenia (n=1).

Four patients who required a third dose reduction for neuropathy (n=2), neutropenia (n=1), and thrombocytopenia (n=1) went off study.

All patients started lenalidomide at 10 mg for 28 days.

Twenty-four patients required a lenalidomide dose reduction. Fifteen patients stayed at 10 mg but for 21 of 28 days, and 9 patients reduced to 5 mg for 28 days.

Reasons for these reductions were neutropenia (n=12), rash (n=4), thrombocytopenia (n=3), fatigue (n=2), memory impairment (n=1), infection (n=1), and pruritis (n=1).

Five patients required a second dose reduction to 5 mg for 21 of 28 days. Reasons for these reductions were neutropenia (n=2), neuropathy (n=1), thrombocytopenia (n=1), and fatigue (n=1).

“There are about 10 patients who did not have any ixazomib reductions that needed lenalidomide reductions, mostly for the pancytopenia,” Dr Patel noted.

Efficacy

Fifty-six percent of patients achieved a very good partial response, 26% a complete response (CR), 8% a stringent CR, and 10% a partial response.

Twenty-nine patients (45%) experienced an improvement in their best overall response from post-transplant baseline.

The median time to response was 10.1 months. The median duration of response has not yet been reached. Investigators estimated the 4-year duration of response to be 62%.

At a median follow-up of 38.2 months, the median PFS had not yet been reached. Investigators estimated the 2-year PFS to be 81%.

The median PFS for patients with high-risk disease is 21.85 months.

Based on these results, the investigators believe ixazomib-lenalidomide maintenance is safe, feasible, and well-tolerated and should be further explored in phase 3 studies.

Dr Patel has received research funding from and served on an advisory committee for Pfizer. She has consulted for Juno and Celgene.

The study was supported by Takeda Oncology.

* Data in the presentation differ slightly from the abstract.