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There are limited data guiding choice of re-induction therapies for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) prior to stem cell transplantation (SCT). We performed a retrospective medical chart review of 171 patients with RRMM in Germany who received re-induction therapy in second line (78%; n= 134) or third line (22%; n= 37) prior to re-SCT. Index therapy was defined as first completed re-induction therapy for planned myeloablative conditioning and SCT in second/third line within the eligibility period (1/2016–12/2019). Most common pre-index first line and maintenance therapy used were bortezomib-based combinations (91%; n= 155/171) and lenalidomide (55%; n= 29/53), respectively. Median duration of index therapy line was 9 months; carfilzomib-based combinations were the most widely used in second/third line re-induction therapy (49%; n= 83/171), followed by daratumumab-based combinations (21%; n= 36/171). Overall response rates in second/third line were 87% after re-induction and 96% after SCT; median time to next treatment line after start of index therapy was 31 months; median progression-free survival (PFS) was 29 months; and median overall survival after index date was not reached. Based on these data, re-induction therapy with salvage SCT appears to be beneficial in selected patients with RRMM in clinical practice in Germany, translating into deep responses, long PFS and prolonged time to next treatment.

Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies have consistently shown increased efficacy when added to standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma. We aimed to assess the efficacy of isatuximab in addition to lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in patients with newly diagnosed transplantation-eligible multiple myeloma.

The role of salvage high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (sHDCT/ASCT) for relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the era of continuous novel agent treatment has not been defined. This randomized, open-label, phase III, multicenter trial randomized patients with 1st–3rd relapse of multiple myeloma (MM) to a transplant arm (n= 139) consisting of 3 Rd (lenalidomide 25 mg, day 1–21; dexamethasone 40 mg, day 1, 8, 15, and 22; 4-week cycles) reinduction cycles, sHDCT (melphalan 200 mg/m2), ASCT, and lenalidomide maintenance (10 mg/day) or to a control arm (n= 138) of continuous Rd. Median PFS was 20.7 months in the transplant and 18.8 months in the control arm (HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.65–1.16; p= 0.34). Median OS was not reached in the transplant and 62.7 months in the control arm (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.52–1.28; p= 0.37). Forty-one patients (29%) did not receive the assigned sHDCT/ASCT mainly due to early disease progression, adverse events, and withdrawal of consent. Multivariate landmark analyses from the time of sHDCT showed superior PFS and OS (p= 0.0087/0.0057) in patients who received sHDCT/ASCT. Incorporation of sHDCT/ASCT into relapse treatment with Rd was feasible in 71% of patients and did not significantly prolong PFS and OS on ITT analysis while patients who received sHDCT/ASCT may have benefitted.

We analyzed the prognostic impact of donor and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus in 16 628 de novo acute leukemia patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Compared with CMV-seronegative recipients who underwent allograft from a CMV-seronegative donor, cases of CMV seropositivity of the donor and/or the recipient showed a significantly decreased 2-year leukemia-free survival (44% vs 49%, P < .001) and overall survival (50% vs 56%, P < .001), and increased nonrelapse mortality (23% vs 20%, P < .001). Both groups showed a comparable relapse incidence and 2-year probability of graft-versus-host disease. The negative prognostic effects of CMV seropositivity of the donor and/or the recipient (vs CMV seronegativity of both) were significantly stronger for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) than for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), resulting in a markedly reduced 2-year overall survival (46% vs 55% for ALL compared with 52% vs 56% for AML). The important prognostic impact of donor/recipient CMV serostatus remained in a multivariate Cox regression analysis including the other prognostic variables. We conclude that donor and/or recipient CMV seropositivity is still associated with an adverse prognosis in de novo acute leukemia patients after allo-SCT despite the implementation of sophisticated strategies for prophylaxis, monitoring, and (preemptive) treatment of CMV.

We analyzed the prognostic impact of donor and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus in 16 628 de novo acute leukemia patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Compared with CMV-seronegative recipients who underwent allograft from a CMV-seronegative donor, cases of CMV seropositivity of the donor and/or the recipient showed a significantly decreased 2-year leukemia-free survival (44% vs 49%, P< .001) and overall survival (50% vs 56%, P< .001), and increased nonrelapse mortality (23% vs 20%, P< .001). Both groups showed a comparable relapse incidence and 2-year probability of graft-versus-host disease. The negative prognostic effects of CMV seropositivity of the donor and/or the recipient (vs CMV seronegativity of both) were significantly stronger for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) than for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), resulting in a markedly reduced 2-year overall survival (46% vs 55% for ALL compared with 52% vs 56% for AML). The important prognostic impact of donor/recipient CMV serostatus remained in a multivariate Cox regression analysis including the other prognostic variables. We conclude that donor and/or recipient CMV seropositivity is still associated with an adverse prognosis in de novo acute leukemia patients after allo-SCT despite the implementation of sophisticated strategies for prophylaxis, monitoring, and (preemptive) treatment of CMV.

Norovirus (NV) infections are a frequent cause of gastroenteritis (GE), but data on this disease in immunocompromised patients are limited. We analyzed an NV outbreak, which affected immunosuppressed patients in the context of chemotherapy or HSCT. On recognition, 7 days after admission of the index patient, preventive measures were implemented. Attack rates were only 3% (11/334) and 10% (11/105) among patients and staff members, respectively. The median duration of symptoms was 7 days in patients compared with only 3 days in staff members (P= .02). Three patients died of the NV infection. Commonly used clinical diagnostic criteria (Kaplan-criteria) were unsuitable because they applied to 11 patients with proven NV-GE but also to 15 patients without NV-GE. With respect to the therapeutic management, it is important to differentiate intestinal GVHD from NV-GE. Therefore, we analyzed the histopathologic patterns in duodenal biopsies, which were distinctive in both conditions. Stool specimens in patients remained positive for NV-RNA for a median of 30 days, but no transmission was observed beyond an asymptomatic interval of 48 hours. NV-GE is a major threat to patients with chemotherapy or HSCT, and meticulous measures are warranted to prevent transmission of NV to these patients.

Norovirus (NV) infections are a frequent cause of gastroenteritis (GE), but data on this disease in immunocompromised patients are limited. We analyzed an NV outbreak, which affected immunosuppressed patients in the context of chemotherapy or HSCT. On recognition, 7 days after admission of the index patient, preventive measures were implemented. Attack rates were only 3% (11/334) and 10% (11/105) among patients and staff members, respectively. The median duration of symptoms was 7 days in patients compared with only 3 days in staff members (P = .02). Three patients died of the NV infection. Commonly used clinical diagnostic criteria (Kaplan-criteria) were unsuitable because they applied to 11 patients with proven NV-GE but also to 15 patients without NV-GE. With respect to the therapeutic management, it is important to differentiate intestinal GVHD from NV-GE. Therefore, we analyzed the histopathologic patterns in duodenal biopsies, which were distinctive in both conditions. Stool specimens in patients remained positive for NV-RNA for a median of 30 days, but no transmission was observed beyond an asymptomatic interval of 48 hours. NV-GE is a major threat to patients with chemotherapy or HSCT, and meticulous measures are warranted to prevent transmission of NV to these patients.

Background:Trisomy 4 is a recurrent but rare cytogenetic abnormality reported in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The prognostic significance of this abnormality in AML patients is not clear. Prognosis of AML patients with trisomy 4 seems to be poor as compared to that of patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) may improve survival if applied early in first complete remission (CR). However, neither prospective clinical nor larger retrospective cohort studies are available to support these results from small series.

Krause: Siemens: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; art-tempi: Honoraria; Kosmas: Honoraria; Gilead: Other: travel support; Abbvie: Other: travel support. Schliemann: Philogen S.p.A.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Other: travel grants; Astellas: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Other: travel grants; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Haenel: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bayer Vital: Honoraria; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Crysandt: Incyte: Honoraria; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fransecky: Medac: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Martinez-Lopez: Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Einsele: Janssen, Celgene/BMS, Amgen, GSK, Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Platzbecker: AbbVie: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Geron: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Baldus: Novartis: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria. Müller-Tidow: Pfizer: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bioline: Research Funding. Levis: Astellas and FujiFilm: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen, Astellas Pharma, Daiichi-Sankyo, FujiFilm, and Menarini: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Montesinos: Stemline/Menarini: Consultancy; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Forma Therapeutics: Consultancy; Glycomimetics: Consultancy; Tolero Pharmaceutical: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Röllig: Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Meyer-Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding. Schlenk: Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Hexal: Honoraria; Neovio Biotech: Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding.

Goldschmidt: Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; ArtTempi: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnology: Consultancy; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding. Baertsch:Takeda: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Raab:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Hillengass:Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Sanofi: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; BMS: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Graeven:AbbVie: Honoraria; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fenk:Takeda: Honoraria; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: travel grant; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel grant, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Haenel:Novartis: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Scheid:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Salwender:Celgene: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: travel support, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding. Weisel:Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, and Sanofi: Research Funding; Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, and Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Juno, Sanofi, and Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

IntroductionSalvage high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is used in fit patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (RMM) in clinical practice. However, the role of this approach in the era of continuous novel agent based treatment has not been defined in randomized trials. The ReLApsE trial compared lenalidomide/dexamethasone (Rd) re-induction, salvage HDCT/ASCT and lenalidomide (R) maintenance with standard continuous Rd in a randomized controlled multicenter trial.

IntroductionThe ReLApsE trial compared lenalidomide (LEN)/dexamethasone (DEX; Rd) re-induction, salvage high dose chemotherapy (HDCT), autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and LEN maintenance with continuous Rd in relapsed multiple myeloma. Landmark (LM) analyses from salvage HDCT were performed due to the fact that ~30% of patients in the HDCT arm did not receive salvage HDCT/ASCT. These analyses showed a survival benefit in patients actually undergoing salvage HDCT/ASCT. Median PFS and OS from LM were 23.3 vs. 20.1 months (HR 0.74; p=0.09) and not reached vs. 57 months (HR 0.56; p=0.046) favoring the salvage HDCT/ASCT arm. Multivariate LM analyses showed significant associations of the salvage HDCT/ASCT arm with superior PFS (HR 0.6; p=0.01) and OS (HR 0.39; p=0.006). The present analysis aims to dissect treatment efficacy in relevant subgroups and provide clues for treatment stratification.

Baertsch: Takeda: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Raab:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Hillengass:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; BMS: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Sanofi: Research Funding. Graeven:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria. Fenk:Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: travel grant; Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel grant, Research Funding. Haenel:Takeda: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria. Scheid:Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding. Salwender:Janssen: Honoraria, Other: travel support, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: travel suppport, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria. Weisel:Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, and Sanofi: Research Funding; Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Juno, Sanofi, and Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, and Takeda: Honoraria. Goldschmidt:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnology: Consultancy; ArtTempi: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Introduction

Background: This EU PASS is an observational, non-interventional registry designed to characterize the safety profile of pomalidomide (POM) in the treatment of RRMM in a real-world setting.

Di Raimondo: ARIAD; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Novartis; Roche: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Gilead Sciences: Other: Travel Expenses. Bentsen:Celgene, Teva: Other: Travel expenses. Kueenburg:Celgene International Sarl: Consultancy, Honoraria. Lersch:Celgene: Employment. Bacon:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Plesner:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

Blau: MSD: Honoraria; JAZZ Pharma: Honoraria; Shire: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; AMGEN: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Baxalta: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria.

Introduction:Multiple myeloma (MM) cells strongly rely on the interaction with bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs) for proliferation and survival. We previously reported that MM cells influence the mitochondrial function and senescence of surrounding BMMSCs amongst others via NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) (Blood, 2014; BMC Cancer, 2015). In the further course we examined the function of SIRT3 in BMMSCs and possible underlying mechanisms of SIRT3 activation.

Mey: Mundipharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Use of Bendamustine in relapsed/refractory Multiple Myekoma. To investigate the efficacy and safety of Bendamustine in combination with the standard backbone of Lenalidomide/ Dexamethasone in patients with replaced/refractory MM.. Bargetzi:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Taverna:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Schmid:Celgene: Honoraria. Knauf:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mundipharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. von Moos:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Hiendlmeyer:Celgene: Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Hitz:Celgene: Research Funding. Driessen:Mundipharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Introduction:Interaction of multiple myeloma (MM) cells with the surrounding bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs) is crucial for MM proliferation and survival. We have previously reported that in vitro cultured MM-BMMSCs display premature stress-induced senescence and constitutive changes in gene expression (Blood, 2013). Because mitochondrial oxidative stress could be the reason for senescence in MM-BMMSCs we investigated the metabolic interplay between MM-BMMSCs and MM cells.

Background

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)/CD56 plays a crucial role in supporting normal hematopoiesis by mesenchymal stem cells, albeit it is currently suggested that its expression is largely restricted to natural killer cells and a subset of T cells among normal hematopoietic cells. Expression of this molecule by clonal plasma cells (PC) is found in around 50-80% of multiple myeloma (MM) patients and might be associated with a favorable prognosis. The biological function of CD56 expression by clonal - and potentially also normal - PC is still unknown.

Monitoring and (preemptive) treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease have been implemented in clinical routine algorithms in patients after allogeneic stem transplantation (allo-SCT) in the early nineties and resulted in a dramatic decrease of CMV disease from 20–30% to less than 5% in recent years. However, a significantly reduced relapse incidence (RI) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with vs. without early CMV replication has been reported just recently. Larger analyses evaluating the prognostic impact of recipient and donor CMV serostatus - as one of the most important risk factors for CMV infection and disease - are lacking at the era of preemptive treatment of CMV infection.We analyzed the prognostic impact of the (pretransplant) recipient and donor CMV serostatus in 16 628 adult de novo acute leukemia patients who underwent allo-SCT between 1998 and 2009 and are documented in the European Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) database (Cohort I). Additionally, 544 patients with secondary AML (e.g. following myeloproliferative neoplasms) who underwent allo-SCT and were reported to the German Registry for Stem Cell Transplantation (DRST) were analyzed according to the prognostic impact of the CMV serostatus (Cohort II). Finally, 97 acute leukemia patients allografted at the Charité University Hospital (Berlin, Germany) were studied more in detail including other parameters such as kinetics of CMV infection and hematopoietic recipient/donor chimerism (Cohort III).Recipient and/or donor CMV seropositivity was associated with a reduced 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) (44% vs. 49%, p<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (50% vs. 56%, p<0.001) in de novo acute leukemia patients (Cohort I). These observations were mainly due to an increased non-relapse mortality (NRM) (23% vs. 20%, p<0.001) and strongest in recipients allografted from a non-HLA identical sibling. However, also higher RI was noted especially for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), resulting in a markedly decreased 2-year OS (46% vs. 55%, p<0.001) in these patients. The negative prognostic impact of recipient and/or donor CMV seropositivity with respect to LFS, OS, NRM and RI remained in a multivariate Cox regression model including different other parameters (e.g. conditioning type). Conversely, the donor CMV serostatus had no significant prognostic impact among CMV seropositive recipients. Recipient CMV seropositivity was further associated with a significantly increased frequency of death due to interstitial pneumonitis, but decreased incidence of both chronic and II-IV° acute graft-versus-host disease (28% vs. 31%, p<0.001). However, it had no significant impact on the incidence of graft failure. Also in secondary AML (Cohort II) recipient and donor CMV seronegativity was associated with a superior 2-year LFS (48% vs. 41%) and OS (54% vs. 44%), but decreased RI (27% vs. 30%) and NRM (25% vs. 31%). The negative impact of CMV seropositivity of the recipient and/or the donor with respect to OS likewise remained in this cohort of secondary AML in a multivariate Cox regression model (Hazard ratio 1.4, p=0.03). Finally, analysis of cohort III showed that CMV seropositive vs. CMV seronegative patients had a significantly reduced OS even in the absence of CMV antigenemia and less frequently had a complete day +30 hematopoietic chimerism (68% vs. 92%, p=0.02).The recipient and donor CMV serostatus still has an important prognostic effect in acute leukemia patients after allo-SCT - particularly in ALL and those allografted from a non-HLA identical sibling - despite the implementation of most sophisticated techniques for monitoring and (preemptive) treatment of CMV in recent years. The increased RI in cases with CMV seropositivity of the recipient and/or the donor argues against a clinically important ‘virus-versus-leukemia effect′ which has been suggested just recently.No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Recurrent immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) translocations - t(14q32) - such as t(4;14) or t(11;14) are considered to be primary cytogenetic events which play an important role in the pathogenesis of clonal plasma cell (PC) disorders. However, previous cytogenetic studies in these diseases have mainly been done in whole bone marrow or CD138+ microbead-enriched PC; the latter technique has several pitfalls such as coexistence of CD138+ and CD138− aberrant PC or apoptotic loss of CD138.Overall, highly-purified aberrant PC (purity ≥98%) from 217 patients with either multiple myeloma (MM; n=155) or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS; n=62) were analyzed for the presence of different cytogenetic alterations such as del(13q14), del(17p13) and t(14q32) by multicolor interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH). Purity of sorted PC populations was further confirmed by iFISH studies of residual normal - i.e. polyclonal - PC fractions in a subgroup of 10 exemplarily cases with clonal PC disorder. Additionally, analysis of IGH gene arrangements and complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) sequencing was carried out in a subset of patients (n=9) and simultaneous application of iFISH and immunofluorescent protein staining (FICTION) was performed in selected cases to confirm the clonal relationship between different fractions of tumor PC from individual patients and specific cytogenetic findings.At diagnosis, 96% of all MM vs. 77% of MGUS cases (p<0.001) showed ≥1 cytogenetic alteration and/or hyperdiploidy. Interestingly, among cases with t(14q32), in 24% of MM vs. 62% of MGUS patients (p=0.02) aberrant PC with and without IGH translocation - e.g. t(4;14) or t(11;14) - coexisted in the same patient. Furthermore, longitudinal cytogenetic studies in a subset of MM patients at different stages of the disease showed that an aberrant PC subclone lacking a recurrent t(14q32) might even expand during disease evolution. PCR and sequencing studies confirmed the existence of only one unique CDR3 sequence - in the absence of an oligo-/polyclonal background - in all tested samples indicating clonal relationship of cytogenetically-defined aberrant PC subclones. These observations together with FICTION analyses performed in selected cases, led further to assume that our findings are not due to contaminating residual normal PC. Finally, MM and MGUS cases frequently showed different but related cytogenetic profiles when other cytogenetic alterations which were presumably sequentially acquired by the PC, such as deletions/gains of IGH, FGFR3, CCND1 and MAF, as well as the DNA ploidy status determined by multiparameter flow cytometry were additionally considered.Our findings using highly-purified aberrant PC suggest that also recurrent IGH translocations might evolve secondarily during disease evolution in a significant fraction of MGUS and MM cases, which raises the question about their precise role in the pathogenesis of clonal PC disorders. Our data further supports the existence of a high intratumoral cytogenetic heterogeneity in MM and MGUS, challenging individualized treatment approaches in these diseases.No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 3945

Abstract 3110

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 617

Background The prophylactic use of systemic antifungal agents reduces morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, the efficacy of this approach in pts receiving intensive chemotherapy or autologous HSCT is yet unproven. This trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of L-AmB prophylaxis in high-risk neutropenic pts. Methods: 231 pts with hematological malignancies and expected neutropenia (N) of more than 10 days (d) following intensive chemotherapy or autologous HSCT were enrolled, 219 pts became neutropenic and were randomized to receive either 50 mg L-AmB i.v. every second d (arm A) or no systemic antifungal prophylaxis (arm B). Treatment with L-AmB started 1–3 d prior onset of N and was continued until neutrophil recovery, breakthrough IFI, intolerable toxicity or death. The level of significance was 0.05 (two-sided) for all statistical analyses. Calculations were performed using commercially (SPSSWIN 12.0) software, the calculations for GEE were performed using the software MAREG. Results Pt. characteristics: Eligible pts 219; arm A: 110; arm B: 109. Reasons for exclusion were: Absence of N (8), infection prior N (3) and pts decision (1). Baseline characteristics were balanced for age (mean 53.8 years), underlying disease (119 AML, 27 ALL, 64 NHL, 9 other), duration of N (mean 14.8 D) and treatment modality (primary 149, secondary 42, transplant 28). Primary endpoint: The incidence of proven and probable IFI was 5 of 110 pts (4.6%) in arm A and 22 of 109 pts (20.2%) in arm B (p = 0.001, RR = 2.9, CI 1.3 – 6.5). Key secondary endpoints: Pneumonia of unknown origin occurred in 6 pts (5.5%) vs. 28 pts (25.7%) (p < 0.001), the incidence of possible, probable and proven IFI was 11 pts (10.2%) vs. 42 pts (39.6%) (p < 0.001), systemic antifungals were used in 24 pts (22%) vs. 64 pts (59%) (p < 0.001), and death occurred in 4 pts (3.7%) vs. 9 pts (8.2%) (p = 0.16) in arm A vs. arm B. Toxicity: No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was noted. Laboratory abnormalities, including creatinine and liver function tests, were not different between the treatment groups. Conclusion: Intermittent application of low dose L-AmB is save. The significant lower incidence of IFI in pts treated with L-AmB prophylaxis supports its use in prolonged N.

BackgroundThe prophylactic use of systemic antifungal agents reduces morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, the efficacy of this approach in pts receiving intensive chemotherapy or autologous HSCT is yet unproven. This trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of L-AmB prophylaxis in high-risk neutropenic pts.