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Purpose: The growth and survival of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are enhanced by the deregulation of signaling pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Major efforts have thus been made to develop molecules targeting these activated pathways. The mTOR serine/threonine kinase belongs to two separate complexes: mTORC1 and mTORC2. The mTORC1 pathway is rapamycin sensitive and controls protein translation through the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 in most models. In AML, however, the translation process is deregulated and rapamycin resistant. Furthermore, the activity of PI3K/Akt and mTOR is closely related, as mTORC2 activates the oncogenic kinase Akt. We therefore tested, in this study, the antileukemic activity of the dual PI3K/mTOR ATP-competitive inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 compound (Novartis).Experimental Design: The activity of NVP-BEZ235 was tested in primary AML samples (n = 21) and human leukemic cell lines. The different signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blotting. The cap-dependent mRNA translation was studied by 7-methyl-GTP pull-down experiments, polysomal analysis, and [3H]leucine incorporation assays. The antileukemic activity of NVP-BEZ235 was tested by analyzing its effects on leukemic progenitor clonogenicity, blast cell proliferation, and survival.Results: The NVP-BEZ235 compound was found to inhibit PI3K and mTORC1 signaling and also mTORC2 activity. Furthermore, NVP-BEZ235 fully inhibits the rapamycin-resistant phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, resulting in a marked inhibition of protein translation in AML cells. Hence, NVP-BEZ235 reduces the proliferation rate and induces an important apoptotic response in AML cells without affecting normal CD34+ survival.Conclusions: Our results clearly show the antileukemic efficiency of the NVP-BEZ235 compound, which therefore represents a promising option for future AML therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 16(22); 5424–35. ©2010 AACR.

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The clinical benefit of pharmaceutical cares in improving the quality-of-care outcomes is well demonstrated. Clinical pharmacy services are not systematically deployed in cancer units in the absence of economic data. The aim of this prospective, observational 1-year study was to evaluate the clinical, economic and organisational impacts of pharmaceutical care into a multidisciplinary day hospital for patients treated with oral cancer drugs.All pharmacists' interventions (PI) were documented and their impact and the probability of adverse drug events were assessed using the clinical, economic and organisational tool.Among 360 admissions, an average of 1.81 PI per admission was accepted. Among 452 PI leading to a clinical benefit on the patient, 16.9% had a major impact, and 1.9% had an impact on survival. The large majority of PIs (87%) increased the quality-of-care organisation. The budget impact model showed a total cost savings and cost avoidance of €539,047 per year and a cost-benefit ratio of 7.07:1. The direct cost-benefit was €201,741, and the cost avoidance was €337,306.Multidisciplinary care and pharmaceutical care are key elements to improve cancer patients' outcomes and avoid evitable healthcare costs.

The risk of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) worsening during pregnancy and neonatal ITP (NITP) have never been prospectively studied. We included 180 pregnant and 168 nonpregnant women with ITP in a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study. A total of 131 pregnant women with ITP were matched to 131 nonpregnant women with ITP by history of splenectomy, ITP status (no response, response, complete response), and duration. Groups were followed for 15 months. The primary outcome was the first occurrence of ITP worsening defined by a composite end point including bleeding events and/or severe thrombocytopenia (

Myeloid sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with a tumoral presentation of acute myeloid leukemia. The clinical presentation of these hematologic cancers is typically aggressive and thus rapidly fatal in the absence of treatment, which relies on intensive chemotherapy that is sometimes followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (AHSCT). However, the global treatment strategy for these lesions is currently not well established. We report the case of a patient presenting with a highly refractory mediastinal myeloid sarcoma with uncommon morphologic and phenotypic characteristics and a clonal TCR rearrangement. The patient's disease was progressive despite multiple courses of intensive chemotherapy and a combination of nelarabine and venetoclax finally led to a complete metabolic response consolidated by an AHSCT. This treatment regimen, which has never been reported before, was very well tolerated especially on the neurologic and hematologic levels. This case underlines the clinical, histologic and molecular heterogeneity of what is called myeloid sarcoma and the importance of next-generation sequencing analysis of the tumor mass with both myeloid and lymphoid panels to better classify this rare entity and identify therapeutic targets.

PURPOSE TP53-mutated ( TP53m) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have very poor outcome irrespective of the treatment received, including 40% responses (20% complete remission [CR]) with azacitidine (AZA) alone, short response duration, and a median overall survival (OS) of approximately 6 months. Eprenetapopt (APR-246), a novel first-in-class drug, leads to p53 protein reconformation and reactivates its proapoptotic and cell-cycle arrest functions. PATIENTS AND METHODS This phase II study assessed the safety and efficacy of eprenetapopt in combination with AZA in untreated high or very high International Prognostic Scoring System-R TP53m MDS and AML patients. RESULTS Fifty-two TP53m patients (34 MDS, 18 AML [including seven with more than 30% blasts]) were enrolled. In MDS, we observed an overall response rate (ORR) of 62%, including 47% CR, with a median duration of response at 10.4 months. In AML, the ORR was 33% including 17% CR (27% and 0% CR in AML with less than and more than 30% marrow blasts, respectively). Seventy-three percent of responders achieved TP53 next-generation sequencing negativity (ie, variant allele frequency < 5%). The main treatment-related adverse events were febrile neutropenia (36%) and neurologic adverse events (40%), the latter correlating with a lower glomerular filtration rate at treatment onset ( P < .01) and higher age ( P = .05), and resolving with temporary drug interruption without recurrence after adequate eprenetapopt dose reduction. With a median follow-up of 9.7 months, median OS was 12.1 months in MDS, and 13.9 and 3.0 months in AML with less than and more than 30% marrow blasts, respectively. CONCLUSION In this very high-risk population of TP53m MDS and AML patients, eprenetapopt combined with AZA was safe and showed potentially higher ORR and CR rate, and longer OS than reported with AZA alone.

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a key role in cancer progression and in host immunity. Idelalisib was the first of this class to be approved with the second-generation Pi3 kinase inhibitors copanlisib, duvelisib and umbralisib, subsequently being approved in the United States. Real-world data are lacking, however, in relation to the incidence and toxicity of Pi3 kinase inhibitor-induced colitis. We here review, in the first instance, the general landscape of the Pi3K inhibitors in the context of hematological malignancies, with a focus on the adverse gastrointestinal side effects reported by various clinical trials. We further review the available worldwide pharmacovigilance data in relation to these drugs. Finally, we describe our own real-world experience with idelalisib-induced colitis management in our center and in a national setting.

Systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (SIADs) occur in 10-20% of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Recently identified VEXAS (Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic) syndrome, associated with somatic mutations in UBA1 (Ubiquitin-like modifier-activating enzyme 1), encompasses a range of severe inflammatory conditions along with hematological abnormalities, including MDS. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the association between MDS and SIADs remain largely unknown, especially the roles of different myeloid immune cell subsets. The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate peripheral blood myeloid immune cells (dendritic cells (DC) and monocytes) by flow cytometry in MDS patients with associated SIAD (n = 14, most often including relapsing polychondritis or neutrophilic dermatoses) and to compare their distribution in MDS patients without SIAD (n = 23) and healthy controls (n = 7). Most MDS and MDS/SIAD patients had low-risk MDS. Eight of 14 (57%) MDS/SIAD patients carried UBA1 somatic mutations, defining VEXAS syndrome.Compared with MDS patients, most DC and monocyte subsets were significantly decreased in MDS/SIAD patients, especially in MDS patients with VEXAS syndrome. Our study provides the first overview of the peripheral blood immune myeloid cell distribution in MDS patients with associated SIADs and raises several hypotheses: possible redistribution to inflammation sites, increased apoptosis, or impaired development in the bone marrow.

Since the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting BCR/ABL1 and significantly improved outcomes on long-term disease-free survival in Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) acute ...

Background The 2011 4th European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL4) guidelines recommend antibiotics de-escalation/discontinuation in selected febrile neutropenia (FN) patients. We aimed to assess the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program based on these guidelines on antibiotics use and clinical outcomes in high-risk FN patients. Methods We conducted an observational study in the hematology department of Cochin University Hospital in Paris, France. An ECIL4-based antibiotics de-escalation and discontinuation strategy was implemented jointly by the hematologists and the AMS team. The pre-intervention (January–October 2018) and post-intervention (January-October 2019) periods were compared. We retrospectively collected clinical and microbiological data. We compiled antibiotics consumptions via hospital pharmacy data and standardized them by calculating defined daily doses per 1000 patient-days. We analyzed the two-monthly antibiotic consumption using an interrupted time series method and built a composite endpoint for clinical outcomes based on transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) and/or hospital death. Results Overall, 273 hospital stays (164 patients) in the pre-intervention and 217 (148 patients) in the post-intervention periods were analyzed. Patients were mainly hospitalized for intensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia or autologous stem-cell transplant for myeloma. Patients were slightly younger in the pre-intervention compared to the post-intervention period (median age 60.4 vs 65.2 years, p = 0.049), but otherwise comparable. After implementation of the AMS program, glycopeptide and carbapenem use decreased by 85% (p = 0.03) and 72% (p = 0.04), respectively. After adjustment on confounders, the risk of transfer to the ICU/death decreased significantly after implementation of the AMS program (post-intervention period: odds-ratio = 0.29, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.15–0.53, p Conclusion Implementation of a multidisciplinary AMS program for high-risk neutropenic patients was associated with lower carbapenem and glycopeptide use and improved clinical outcomes.

Background Mature blood cells arise from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow by a process of differentiation along one of several different lineage trajectories. This is often represented as a series of discrete steps of increasing progenitor cell commitment to a given lineage, but as for differentiation in general, whether the process is instructive or stochastic remains controversial. Here, we examine this question by analyzing single-cell transcriptomic data from human bone marrow cells, assessing cell-to-cell variability along the trajectories of hematopoietic differentiation into four different types of mature blood cells. The instructive model predicts that cells will be following the same sequence of instructions and that there will be minimal variability of gene expression between them throughout the process, while the stochastic model predicts a role for cell-to-cell variability when lineage commitments are being made. Results Applying Shannon entropy to measure cell-to-cell variability among human hematopoietic bone marrow cells at the same stage of differentiation, we observed a transient peak of gene expression variability occurring at characteristic points in all hematopoietic differentiation pathways. Strikingly, the genes whose cell-to-cell variation of expression fluctuated the most over the course of a given differentiation trajectory are pathway-specific genes, whereas genes which showed the greatest variation of mean expression are common to all pathways. Finally, we showed that the level of cell-to-cell variation is increased in the most immature compartment of hematopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndromes. Conclusions These data suggest that human hematopoietic differentiation could be better conceptualized as a dynamical stochastic process with a transient stage of cellular indetermination, and strongly support the stochastic view of differentiation. They also highlight the need to consider the role of stochastic gene expression in complex physiological processes and pathologies such as cancers, paving the way for possible noise-based therapies through epigenetic regulation.

SUMMARYAcquired mutations in theUBA1gene, occurring in myeloid cells and resulting in expression of a catalytically impaired isoform of the enzyme E1, were recently identified in patients with severe adult-onset auto-inflammatory syndrome called VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic). The precise physiological and clinical impact of these mutations remains poorly defined.Here, we studied a unique prospective cohort of individuals with severe autoinflammatory disease with (VEXAS) or without (VEXAS-like)UBA1somatic mutations and compared with low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and aged gender-matched healthy controls. We performed an integrated immune analysis including multiparameter phenotyping of peripheral blood leukocytes, cytokines profiling, bulk and single-cell gene expression analyses and skin tissue imaging mass cytometry.Focusing on myeloid cells, we show that monocytes fromUBA1-mutated individuals were quantitatively and qualitatively impaired and displayed features of exhaustion with aberrant expression of chemokine receptors. Within affected tissues, pathological skin biopsies from VEXAS patients showed an abundant enrichment of CD16+CD163+monocytes adjacent to blood vessels and M1 macrophages, possibly promoting local inflammation in part through STAT3 activation. In peripheral blood from VEXAS patients, we identified a significant increase in circulating levels of many proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-18 which reflect inflammasome activation and markers of myeloid cells dysregulation. Gene expression analysis of whole blood confirmed the role of circulating cells in the IL-1β and IL-18 dysregulation in VEXAS patients and revealed a significant enrichment of TNF-α and NFκB signaling pathways that could mediate cell death and inflammation. Single-cell analysis confirmed the inflammatory state of monocytes from VEXAS patients and allowed us to identify specific molecular pathways that could explain monocytopenia, especially the activation of PANoptosis and a deficiency in the TYROBP/DAP12 axis and β-catenin signaling pathway. Together, these findings on monocytes from patients withUBA1mutations provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms involving the mature myeloid commitment in VEXAS syndrome and suggest that the control of the undescribed inflammasome activation and PANoptosis could be novel therapeutic targets in this condition.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

We analysed the therapeutic outcomes of all consecutive patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) registered in the prospective French database for PCNSL and treated with intensive chemotherapy (IC) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (IC-ASCT) between 2011 and November 2019 (271 patients recruited, 266 analysed). In addition, treatment-related complications of thiotepa-based IC-ASCT were analysed from the source files of 85 patients from 3 centers. Patients had received IC-ASCT either in first-line treatment (n = 147) or at relapse (n = 119). The median age at IC-ASCT was 57 years (range: 22-74). IC consisted of thiotepa-BCNU (n = 64), thiotepa-busulfan (n = 24), BCNU-etoposide-cytarabine-melphalan (BEAM, n = 36) and thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide (n = 142). In multivariate analysis, BEAM and ASCT beyond the first relapse were adverse prognostic factors for relapse risk. The risk of treatment-related mortality was higher for ASCT performed beyond the first relapse and seemed higher for thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide. Thiotepa-BCNU tends to result in a higher relapse rate than thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide and thiotepa-busulfan. This study confirms the role of IC-ASCT in first-line treatment and at first-relapse PCNSL (5-year overall survival rates of 80 and 50%, respectively). The benefit/risk ratio of thiotepa-busulfan/thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide-ASCT could be improved by considering ASCT earlier in the course of the disease and dose adjustment of the IC.

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients are at risk of fatal outcome after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Preliminary data suggest that MM patients have an impaired response to vaccination. This prospective study analyzed the humoral and cellular immune responses to two doses of BNT162b2 in 72 MM patients, including 48 receiving anti-CD38 immunotherapy. Results evidenced that MM patients display lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and IgA antibodies and decreased neutralization of alpha and delta variants when compared to healthy controls. They also showed decreased numbers of circulating IFNγ-producing Spike SARS-CoV-2 specific T lymphocytes. This defective immune response was particularly marked in patients receiving anti-CD38 immunotherapy. Furthermore, a retrospective investigation of MM patients among COVID-19-related death in the Paris area suggested a limited efficacy of BNT162b2 in patients treated with anti-CD38. Overall, these results show a decreased immunogenicity of BNT162b2 in MM patients and stress the need for novel strategies to improve SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis in immunocompromised individuals.

The treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) remains a challenge. Among salvage chemotherapy regimens, the clofarabine and cytarabine (CLARA) combination has been widely evaluated and has a favourable safety/efficacy balance. Predictive factors of efficacy in patients with R/R AML are unclear, particularly the impact of AML-related gene mutations. We report our single-centre experience on 34 R/R AML patients treated with CLARA, with a focus on the genetic characterization of our cohort. CLARA yielded a 47% response rate among this poor-prognosis AML population, while two patients (5·8%) died due to treatment-related toxicity. The two-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 29·4% and 35·3%, respectively. Nine patients (26%) had long-term response with a median follow-up of 39·5 months among the responders, of whom six underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Adverse karyotype did not correlate with response or survival, and secondary AML were more frequent among responders to CLARA, suggesting that this combination may successfully salvage R/R AML patients regardless of adverse prognostic markers. We also observed that a low mutational burden and absence of splice mutations correlated with prolonged survival after CLARA, suggesting that extensive genotyping may have prognostic implications in R/R AML.

Background Compelling evidence has emerged for the relevance of flow cytometry (FC) in the diagnostic work-up of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) but due to technical issues, the erythroid lineage has been under investigated, specifically in the therapeutic context. Methods Using the "no red cell lysis" method developed to set up the RED-score, we specifically quantified the fraction of CD117/c-KIT-expressing erythroid precursors in a cohort of 144 MDS patients and studied the correlation with response to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in a sub cohort of 63 low-risk MDS patients. Results We confirmed the previously reported increase in CD117/c-KIT-expressing erythroid precursors in a subset of MDS patients and demonstrated a strong association between a cut off of CD117/c-KIT-expressing erythroid precursors ≥3% and ESA response (P = 0.001), independent of red blood cell requirement. From our observations, we hypothesized that a decrease in CD117/c-KIT-expressing erythroid precursors could be a mechanism of ESA failure. Moreover, the fraction of CD117/c-KIT-expressing erythroid precursors was correlated with progression-free survival in low-risk MDS patients (P = 0.018). In vitro, we demonstrated in an EPO dependent cell line that CD117/c-KIT expression is necessary for cell survival under EPO stimulation. Conclusions The quantification of the CD117/c-KIT-expressing erythroid precursors could be proposed as a new theranostic and prognostic marker in MDS treated by ESA. Future studies will be required to determine whether modulating CD117/c-KIT expression and signaling could be used to improve anemia in MDS. © 2019 International Clinical Cytometry Society.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) can be cured in most children and in the majority of young adults with sufficiently intensive – and myelosuppressive – combination chemotherapy regimens ...

Hematopoietic differentiation has been metaphorically represented as linear trajectories with discrete steps from hematopoietic stem cells to mature cells. While the transcriptional state of cells at the beginning or at the end of these trajectories are well described from bulk analysis, what happens in the intermediate states has remained elusive until the use of single cell approaches. Applying Shannon entropy to measure cell-to-cell variability among cells at the same stage of differentiation, we observed a transient peak of gene expression variability in all the hematopoietic differentiation pathways. Strikingly, genes with the highest entropy variation in a given differentiation pathway matched genes known as pathway-specific, whereas genes with the highest expression variation were common to all pathways. Finally, we showed that the level of cell-to-cell variation is increased in the most immature compartment of hematopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndromes. These data suggest that differentiation could be better conceptualized as a dynamical stochastic process with a transient stage of cellular indetermination.

Background and ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of the association rituximab-lenalidomide-ibrutinib (R2I) in relapsed/refractory (R/R) primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL).MethodsR/R PCNSL patients treated with R2I were retrospectively selected and analyzed from the French LOC database.ResultsFourteen patients (median age: 63 years, median Karnofsky Performance Status: 75%) received R2I, administered after a median of 2 previous lines of chemotherapy, including autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in 5 cases. The best response was complete response in 4/14 patients and partial response in 4/14 patients, achieved in a median of 2.5 months. Three responder patients received consolidation treatment (WBRT: N = 2, ASCT: N = 1) after R2I, and R2I served as a bridge before CAR-T cell therapy for one patient. R2I was discontinued due to toxicity in 3/14 patients. There were no toxicity-related deaths.DiscussionThe R2I combination resulted in a high rate of response of rapid-onset in heavily pretreated patients with poor prognosis, with manageable toxicity, and allowed 3 patients to proceed to consolidation. Although preliminary, these results support the use of R2I for R/R PCNSL failing conventional chemotherapies.Classification of EvidenceThis study provides Class IV evidence that combination of rituximab-lenalidomide-ibrutinib induces a high rate of response in heavily pretreated R/R PCNSL.

This phase II study assessed the safety and efficacy of eprenetapopt in combination with AZA in untreated high or very high International Prognostic Scoring System-RFifty-twoIn this very high-risk population of

Objective Patients with inflammatory myopathies (IM) are known to have an increased risk of developing malignancies. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases occur in up to 25% of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This study aimed to describe the rare association between IM and MDS. Methods We report here the main characteristics, treatment, and outcome of 21 patients (11 national cases and 10 additional cases from a literature review) with IM associated to MDS. Results Median age of patients at IM diagnosis was 66 years (range 26 – 78). Diagnosis of the two conditions were concomitant in most patients (n=14/21) whereas MDS diagnosis preceded IM diagnosis in 5 patients. Different types of IM were observed but dermatomyositis was the most frequent (59%). Compared to IM without MDS (IM/MDS−), patients with MDS (IM/MDS+) were older (median 66 vs 55, p=0.3), more frequently male (sex ratio M/F 1.125 vs 0.41, p=0.14) and positive for anti-TIF1γ (24% vs 4%, p=0.0039). Antisynthetase syndrome was never observed among IM/MDS+ patients (0% vs 28%, p=0.01). MDS WHO type was not univocal, but the prognostic score was of low risk in almost all cases. IM was usually steroid sensitive (82% of patients) but often steroid dependent (56% of patients). Overall survival of IM patients with MDS was worse compared to patients with IM without MDS (p=0.0002). Conclusion IM associated with MDS are mainly represented by dermatomyositis and/or anti-TIF1γ autoantibodies. Antisynthetase syndrome has not been described in association with MDS. Despite low-risk MDS, overall survival of IM patients with MDS is worse than IM patients without MDS.

Background : Datas from China suggest that patients with cancer have more severe outcome in case of covid-19 infection. Patients with haematological disease have often immunosuppression, due to the underlying disease and to their treatment. Methods: We recorded the consecutive patients usually treated in our haematology department diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between March 10th to April 30th. To evaluate the impact of the pandemic, we compare the activity of our department during two twenty working-days periods: March 20th to April 17th (“Covid month”) and February 18th to March 16th 2020 (“Covid-free month”). Results: Fifty patients treated in our haematology department had a COVID-19 infection, diagnosed with PCR or CT-scanner. Half of them were still on chemotherapy treatment, 30% were on survey after treatment and 20% were on a “watch and wait” strategy. Sixteen patients ( 30%) evolved to an acute respiratory syndrome with a fatal outcome in ten cases. (20%). The severity of the disease prompted us to change the organization of our department to protect our patients. We followed international recommendation and delayed non urgent procedure. this allowed a reduction of 10% of our activity. Moreover, we managed to treat 25% of our patients coming usually in outpatient clinic with tele-health. Thanks to hospital-at-home, these patients could receive their treatment and stay safe at home. Conclusion: This retrospective study give an insight of how covid-19 outbreak will change cancer care.

Background Optimal dosing of antibiotics is critical in immunocompromised patients suspected to have an infection. Data on pharmacokinetics (PK) of meropenem in patients with haematological malignancies are scarce. Objectives To optimize dosing regimens, we aimed to develop a PK population model for meropenem in this population. Methods Patients aged ≥18 years, hospitalized in the haematology department of our 1500 bed university hospital for a malignant haematological disease and who had received at least one dose of meropenem were eligible. Meropenem was quantified by HPLC. PK were described using a non-linear mixed-effect model and external validation performed on a distinct database. Monte Carlo simulations estimated the PTA, depending on renal function, duration of infusion and MIC. Target for free trough concentration was set at >4× MIC. Results Overall, 88 patients (181 samples) were included, 66 patients (75%) were in aplasia and median Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) CLCR was 117 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range: 35–359). Initial meropenem dosing regimen ranged from 1 g q8h to 2 g q8h over 30 to 60 min. A one-compartment model with first-order elimination adequately described the data. Only MDRD CLCR was found to be significantly associated with CL. Only continuous infusion achieved a PTA of 100% whatever the MIC and MDRD CLCR. Short duration of infusion ( Conclusions In patients with malignant haematological diseases, meropenem should be administered at high dose (6 g/day) and on continuous infusion to reach acceptable trough concentrations.

Introduction: TP53 gene mutations (m TP53), found in up to 20% of MDS or AML pts and 30-40% of therapy-related (TR) MDS/AML cases, represent a distinct molecular cohort with poor outcomes. Hypomethylating agents (HMA) are the frontline standard of care, with CR rates of ~20% and median OS of < 12 months. APR-246 is a novel, first-in-class small molecule that reactivates the mutant p53 protein and targets cellular redox balance, ultimately inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis in m TP53 cancer cells. We previously reported the Phase 2 results of 2 parallel trials of APR-246+AZA (Sallman et al and Cluzeau et al., JCO 2021). We now report analyses of the combined Phase 2 cohorts and long-term follow-up. Methods: This is a multicenter, international collaboration of the US MDS clinical research consortium and the GFM of HMA-naïve m TP53 higher-risk MDS, MDS/MPN and oligoblastic AML (≤ 30% blasts) pts (NCT03072043/NCT03588078). Pts received APR-246 4500mg IV (days 1-4) + AZA 75 mg/m 2 SC/IV x 7 days (days 4-10 or 4-5 and 8-12) in 28-day cycles. Primary objective was CR rate by International Working Group (IWG) 2006 criteria. Secondary objectives included ORR, OS, outcome following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT), with serial high depth next generation sequencing (NGS, 0.1% cutoff) for evaluation of measurable residual disease (MRD). Results: As of July 15, 2021, 100 pts had been enrolled with a median age of 68 years (range, 34-87; 47% male). By WHO, 74 pts had MDS, 22 AML-MRC and 4 CMML/MDS-MPN; 83% complex karyotype (CK) and 88% were CK and/or biallelic for TP53 mutations; 92% had a TP53 missense mutation in the DNA binding domain. In 63 pts, TP53 was the only mutation detected (i.e. isolated m TP53). Median time on treatment was 6 cycles (1-25+) with 5 pts ongoing and 23 pts who proceeded to allo-HSCT. Non-hematologic treatment (Tx)-related adverse events (AEs) in ≥20% of pts included nausea/vomiting (58%), ataxia (26%), and dizziness (23%). Neurologic AEs were reversible in 100% of cases. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 37% of pts. Thirty and 60-day mortality was 1% (n=1) and 7% (n=7), respectively. Dose reductions of APR-246 and AZA occurred in 16% and 1% of pts, respectively, with only 1 treatment discontinuation due to a treatment-related AE. By intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, ORR by IWG was 69% with 43 CR, 1 PR, 10 marrow CR (mCR)+HI, 9 HI alone, and 6 with mCR. Of non-responders, 6 had stable disease and 7 pts had progressive disease. The median duration of CR/PR was 10.6 months (95% CI 8.8-12.3, 23+ months ongoing). CR/PR rate for MDS was 49% (36/74), 36% for AML (8/22) and 0% for MDS/MPN (0/4) with an ORR rate of 70%/64%/75%, respectively. Isolated m TP53 was predictive for a higher CR rate (52% vs 30%; P=.04). Patients who had biallelic TP53 or CK had a significantly higher CR rate vs pts without (49% vs 8%; P=0.01). On serial TP53 NGS using a VAF cutoff of 5%, 40 pts achieved NGS negativity with 6 pts MRD negative (VAF < 0.1%). Of NGS negative pts (TP53 VAF At data-cutoff by ITT analysis with a median follow up of 27.8 months, median OS was 11.8 months (95% CI 9.4-14.3). Pts undergoing allo-HSCT had a median OS of 16.1 months (95% CI 14-18.1). Impact of response and NGS clearance was evaluated by landmark analysis at 6 months. Pts achieving CR/PR or NGS negativity had improved OS (15.8 vs 10.1 months; P=0.002; Fig 1A). Additionally, pts who became MRD negative had a 2-year OS of 50% vs 23% (P=0.21). Although allo-HSCT was not predictive of OS in the overall cohort by landmark analysis (14.7 vs 14.4 months; P=0.15; Fig 1B), significant OS improvement was noted in allo-HSCT pts based on CR/PR or NGS negativity (P=0.002; Fig 1C). Notably, pts who achieved CR/PR/NGS negativity and were bridged to allo-HSCT had a median OS that was not reached (95% CI 10.4-NR) vs 9.1 months (95% CI 7.4-NR) in allo-HSCT pts who did not achieve this response (P=0.01). Conclusions: In this international, combined analysis of P2 APR-246+AZA pts, the combination was well-tolerated with high response rates in m TP53 MDS/AML. Quality of response and NGS negativity strongly predicted OS, particularly in the setting of allo-HSCT, validating NGS clearance as a critical biomarker of allo-HSCT outcomes in m TP53 pts. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Sallman: Intellia: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aprea: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Magenta: Consultancy; Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Syndax: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Komrokji: BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; JAZZ: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria; Geron: Honoraria; Acceleron: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. DeZern: Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sebert: BMS: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy. Steensma: Novartis: Current Employment. Roboz: Astellas: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy; MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Mesoblast: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Astex: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Sekeres: BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda/Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sweet: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AROG: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Meyers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kuykendall: Incyte: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Prelude: Research Funding; PharmaEssentia: Honoraria; CTI Biopharma: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BluePrint Medicines: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria; Protagonist: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Recher: Agios: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MaatPharma: Research Funding; Macrogenics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: 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, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Raffoux: ASTELLAS: Consultancy; ABBVIE: Consultancy; PFIZER: Consultancy; CELGENE/BMS: Consultancy. Padron: Incyte: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Blueprint: Honoraria; Kura: Research Funding; Taiho: Honoraria; Stemline: Honoraria. Attar: Aprea Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kantarjian: Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria; BMS: Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas Health: Honoraria; Jazz: Research Funding; Aptitude Health: Honoraria; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria; Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; NOVA Research: Honoraria; Precision Biosciences: Honoraria; Immunogen: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria. List: Precision BioSciences: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Aileron Therapeutics: Consultancy; CTI Biosciences: Consultancy; Halia Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Ades: Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; JAZZ: Honoraria. Lancet: BerGenBio: Consultancy; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy; Millenium Pharma/Takeda: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; ElevateBio Management: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy. Fenaux: Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; JAZZ: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Syros Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria.

Although anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies have improved the prognosis of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), some patients still experience early relapses with poor outcomes. This present study evaluated the predictive value of FDG PET/CT parameters for RRMM prior to initiating anti-CD38 treatment. We included 38 consecutive RRMM patients who underwent a PET/CT scan treated at our institution at relapse. The median PFS was 12.5 months and the median OS was not reached. 42% of the patients had an initial ISS score of 1, 37% of 2, and 21% of 3. The presence of &gt, 3 focal lesions (FLs, n = 19) and the ISS score were associated with inferior PFS (p = 0.0036 and p = 0.0026) and OS (p = 0.025 and p = 0.0098). Patients with &gt, 3 FLs had a higher initial ISS score (p = 0.028). In multivariable analysis, the ISS score and &gt, 3 FLs were independent prognostic factors for PFS (p = 0.010 and p = 0.025 respectively), and combined they individualized a high-risk group with a median PFS and OS of 3.1 months and 8.5 months respectively vs. not reached for the other patients. The presence of &gt, 3 FLs on PET was predictive of survival outcomes in patients with RRMM treated using CD38 targeted therapy. Combined with the initial ISS, an ultra-high-risk RRMM population can thus be identified.

Mutational analyses performed following acquired ibrutinib resistance have suggested that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) progression on ibrutinib is linked to mutations in Bruton tyrosine kinase (

Introduction La neuropathie amyloide AL, une cause rare d’atteinte nerveuse peripherique, associe generalement une atteinte distale symetrique et une dysautonomie. Nous rapportons une presentation atypique, essentiellement caracterisee par une plexopathie unilaterale. Observation Une patiente de 74 ans consulte en hematologie pour alteration de l’etat general, polyadenopathie et bicytopenie. L’anamnese revele des paresthesies du territoire C8 gauche depuis 2 ans. L’immunofixation montre un pic monoclonal IgM lambda et la biopsie osteomedullaire pose le diagnostic de maladie de Waldenstrom. La patiente est traitee par alkylant puis anti-CD20, permettant la regression de l’infiltrat medullaire. Au cours de la meme annee apparait neanmoins un deficit moteur des territoires C5 a T1 gauches ainsi qu’une paralysie du nerf III gauche. Les IRM cerebrale et orbitaire sont normales. L’EMG met en evidence une baisse des amplitudes sensitives dans le territoire plexique gauche et des traces neurogenes dans les muscles correspondants. L’IRM du rachis cervical et l’etude du LCR sont normaux. L’IRM des plexi brachiaux revele une atteinte bilaterale, plurisegmentaire et confluente, d’allure inflammatoire. La PET-TDM est normale. La patiente est traitee par immunoglobulines IV. La poursuite de la degradation clinique et neurophysiologique fait pratiquer une biopsie des glandes salivaires, laquelle revele des depots d’amylose AL, et une biopsie du nerf radial, qui confirme le diagnostic de neuropathie amyloide. Discussion La plexopathie est une presentation rare d’atteinte neurologique amyloide, pouvant initialement etre consideree comme une neuropathie inflammatoire. La poursuite de l’aggravation sous immunoglobulines IV doit faire reconsiderer le diagnostic. Une fois le diagnostic de neuropathie amyloide AL etabli, le traitement repose sur la prise en charge de la pathologie hematologique sous-jacente, meme s’il ne permet que rarement la stabilisation clinique. Conclusion La neuropathie amyloide AL est une affection rare, dont la presentation peut s’averer trompeuse. Elle peut etre revelee par une plexopathie monomelique et comporter l’atteinte de paires crâniennes. Conclusion Image 1 : Depots Rouge Congo sur biopsie nerveuse, Dr Maisonobe.

We would like to report a study on solitary plasmacytoma of the bone (SPB) treatment.SPB is a rare plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by a single bone tumor with no evidence of other lesions or mu...

Somatic mutations contribute to the heterogeneous prognosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are active in CMML, but analyses of small series failed to identify mutations predicting response or survival. We analyzed a retrospective multi-center cohort of 174 CMML patients treated with a median of 7 cycles of azacitidine (n = 68) or decitabine (n = 106). Sequencing data before treatment initiation were available for all patients, from Sanger (n = 68) or next generation (n = 106) sequencing. Overall response rate (ORR) was 52%, including complete response (CR) in 28 patients (17%). In multivariate analysis, ASXL1 mutations predicted a lower ORR (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.85, p = 0.037), whereas TET2mut/ASXL1wt genotype predicted a higher CR rate (OR = 1.18, p = 0.011) independently of clinical parameters. With a median follow-up of 36.7 months, overall survival (OS) was 23.0 months. In multivariate analysis, RUNX1mut (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 2.00, p = .011), CBLmut (HR = 1.90, p = 0.03) genotypes and higher WBC (log10(WBC) HR = 2.30, p = .005) independently predicted worse OS while the TET2mut/ASXL1wt predicted better OS (HR = 0.60, p = 0.05). CMML-specific scores CPSS and GFM had limited predictive power. Our results stress the need for robust biomarkers of HMA activity in CMML and for novel treatment strategies in patients with myeloproliferative features and RUNX1 mutations., Highlights • TET2mut/ASXL1wt genotype predicts higher complete response rate and prolonged survival in CMML with hypomethylating agents. • Conversely, RUNX1mut and CBLmut genotypes are associated with poorer outcome, independently of higher leukocyte count. • CPSS and GFM prognostic scores showed modest performance when calculated at initiation of hypomethylating agents. Somatic mutations contribute to the heterogeneous prognosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are active in CMML. Response and survival in MDS and AML patients treated with HMAs is difficult to predict. We explore the predictive role of recurrent somatic mutations in a large retrospective cohort of 174 HMA-treated CMMLs. Consistent with MDS studies, we report a higher response rate in TET2mut/ASXL1wt patients. We also identify a CMML-specific molecular pattern (RUNX1mut or CBLmut) associated with shorter survival. Our results can inform treatment decision in CMML, for instance by using HMAs prior to transplant in TET2mut/ASXL1wt patients.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare topographic variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). While prognostic scales are useful in clinical trials, no dynamic prognostic marker is available in this disease. We report here the prognostic value of early metabolic response by 18F-FDG PET scanner (PET) in 25 newly diagnosed immunocompetent PCNSL patients. Induction treatment consisted of four cycles of Rituximab, Methotrexate and Temozolamide (RMT). Based on patient's general condition, consolidation by high-dose Etoposide and Aracytine was given to responding patients. Brain MRI and PET were performed at diagnosis, after two and four cycles of RMT, and after treatment completion. Two-year progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 62% and 74%, respectively for the whole cohort. Best responses after RMT induction were 18 (72%) complete response (CR)/CR undetermined (CRu), 4 (16%) partial response, 1 (4%) progressive disease and 2 (8%) stable disease. Response evaluation was concordant between MRI and PET at the end of induction therapy. Nineteen patients (76%) had a negative PET2. Predictive positive and negative values of PET2 on end-of-treatment (ETR) CR were 66.67% and 94.74%, respectively. We observed a significant association between PET2 negativity and ETR (p = 0.001) and longer PFS (p = 0.02), while having no impact on OS (p = 0.32). Two years PFS was 72% and 33% for PET2- and PET2+ patients, respectively (p < 0.02). PET2 evaluation may help to early define a subgroup of CR PCNSL patients with a favorable outcome.

Introduction : TP53 mutated (TP53m) MDS and AML have very poor outcome irrespective of the treatment received, including 40% responses (20% CR) with azacitidine (AZA) with short response duration and a median overall survival (OS) of about 8 months (Bejar, Blood 2014). APR-246 is a prodrug spontaneously converted to methylene quinuclidinone (MQ), a Michael acceptor that binds covalently to cysteines in mutant p53, leading to protein reconformation that reactivates its pro apoptotic and cell cycle arrest functions. The combination of AZA and APR 246 showed promising results in a phase Ib study in TP53m MDS (Sallman, ASH 2018). We report interim results of a GFM phase 2 study of AZA+ APR-246 in TP53m MDS and AML, conducted in parallel with a similar US MDS consortium study. Patients and Methods : The study included hypomethylating agent (HMA) naïve and not previously allografted intermediate, high or very high IPSS-R TP53m MDS and AML adult patients. Patients received APR-246 4500 mg IV /d (6 hour infusions) (days 1-4) followed by AZA 75 mg/m²/d (days 4-10) in 28 day cycles. Response (primary endpoint, assessed by IWG 2006 for MDS and ELN criteria for AML) was evaluated after 3 and 6 cycles in the intent to treat (ITT) population, ie all patients who had received any protocol treatment, and in patients who had at least a blood and bone marrow evaluation after cycle 3 (evaluable population). Allo-SCT, when possible, was proposed after 3 to 6 cycles, and treatment with reduced APR 246 and AZA doses could be continued after allo-SCT. Results : 53 patients were enrolled between Sept 2018 and July 2019 in 7 GFM centers, with a median age of 73 years (range 44-87), and M/F: 28/25. 34 patients had MDS (including 74% very high IPSS-R) and 19 had AML. IPSS-R cytogenetic risk was very poor in 30/34 MDS, and unfavorable in 18/19 AML, complex in 89% of the patients. Median baseline mutated TP53 VAF was 21% (range 3-76). Nineteen of the 53 patients had been included at least 7 months before date of analysis (25 July 2019), had received protocol treatment and were thus potentially evaluable for response after 6 treatment cycles (ITT population). One of them died after only one cycle from an unrelated cause (cerebral ischemic stroke), and 2 during the third cycle (from bleeding and sepsis, respectively). In the remaining 16 patients (evaluable population per protocol), the response rate was 75% including 9 (56%) CR, 3 (19%) marrow CR or stable disease with hematological improvement (HI), and 4 treatment resistance. In the ITT population, the response rate was 63%, including 47% CR, and 16% stable or marrow CR+ HI. Among CR patients, complete cytogenetic CR and negative NGS for TP53 mutation (VAF cutoff of 2%) were achieved in 7/9 (78%) and 8/8 (100%), respectively. So far, 1 patient has undergone allo-SCT. All 53 patients had received at least one treatment cycle, and no increased myelosuppression, compared with AZA alone, was apparent. Treatment related AEs observed in ≥ 20% of patients were febrile neutropenia in 19 (36%) and neurological AEs in 21 (40%) of the patients. The latter, reviewed with a neurological team, were mainly grade 1 or 2 and consisted of ataxia (n=13), sometimes associated with cognitive impairment (n=4), suggesting a cerebellar origin. Other patients experienced acute confusion (n=4), isolated dizziness (n=3) and facial paresthesia (n=1). Neurological AEs reached grade III in 3 cases (1 acute confusion, 2 ataxia). Occurrence of neurological AEs was correlated with lower glomerular filtration rate at treatment onset (p Conclusion : In this very high-risk elderly population of TP53m MDS and AML, generally with complex karyotype, a promising 56% CR rate at 6 cycles was reached in the evaluable population with AZA+ APR 246 combination, with deep molecular remission in all CR patients. We observed manageable neurologic AEs, mainly in elderly patients with reduced renal function, who therefore require close monitoring and dose reduction if necessary. An update regarding safety and efficacy in the 53 patients, including survival data, will be available at the meeting. A phase III international trial comparing AZA alone and AZA+ APR 246 in TP53m MDS is ongoing. Disclosures Cluzeau: Abbvie: Consultancy; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy; Menarini: Consultancy. Peterlin:AbbVie Inc: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy. Recher:Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; chugai: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Stamatoullas:Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy. Berthon:JAZZPHARMACEUTICAL: Other: DISCLOSURE BOARD; CELGEN: Other: DISCLOSURE BOARD; PFIZER: Other: DISCLOSURE BOARD. Sallman:Celyad: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ades:Amgen: Research Funding; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Silence Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Helsinn Healthcare: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fenaux:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astex: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Aprea: Research Funding.

l-asparaginase (L-ase) is a major drug used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) [1]. L-ase kills leukemic cells by depleting circulating asparagine pools related to its asparaginase activit...

Sustained Leukemia-Free State and Molecular Response to Sorafenib in a Patient With Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia in Transformation Driven by Homozygous FLT3-ITD Malignant Hematopoiesis Olivier Kosmider, Nicolas Chapuis, Sophie Kaltenbach, Romain Coriat, Pascaline Boudou Rouquette, Lise Willems, Virginie Chesnais, Isabelle Radford-Weiss, Valerie Bardet, Patrick Mayeux, Jerome Tamburini, Michaela Fontenay, Didier Bouscary

International audience; Primary bone diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL) is a rare DLBCL location variant. We treated 76 PB-DLBCL patients by immuno-chemotherapy, resulting in an 84% sustained complete remission rate and a 78.9% survival over a 4.7-year median follow-up period. Ann Arbor stage IV and high age-adjusted international prognostic index were predictive of adverse outcome in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis using a Cox model, only aa-IPI predicted long-term survival. While based on a limited number of cases, we suggested that radiotherapy may be useful as a consolidation modality in PB-DLBCL. We also suggested that positron emission tomography/CT scan should be interpreted with caution due to a persistent [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose [18FDG] uptake of bone lesions even after remission in some in PB-DLBCL patients. Our study based on a homogeneous cohort of PB-DLBCL patients confirmed the favorable outcome of this DLBCL variant and support the implementation of prospective clinical trials in this disease.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are hematopoietic stem cell disorders in which recurrent mutations define clonal hematopoiesis. The origin of the phenotypic diversity of non-del(5q) MDS remains unclear. Here, we investigated the clonal architecture of the CD34+CD38- hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) compartment and interrogated dominant clones for MDS-initiating cells. We found that clones mainly accumulate mutations in a linear succession with retention of a dominant subclone. The clone detected in the long-term culture-initiating cell compartment that reconstitutes short-term human hematopoiesis in xenotransplantation models is usually the dominant clone, which gives rise to the myeloid and to a lesser extent to the lymphoid lineage. The pattern of mutations may differ between common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), granulomonocytic progenitors (GMPs), and megakaryocytic-erythroid progenitors (MEPs). Rare STAG2 mutations can amplify at the level of GMPs, from which it may drive the transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. We report that major truncating BCOR gene mutation affecting HSPC and CMP was beneath the threshold of detection in GMP or MEP. Consistently, BCOR knock-down (KD) in normal CD34+ progenitors modifies their granulocytic and erythroid differentiation. Clonal architecture of the HSPC compartment and mutations selected during differentiation contribute to the phenotypic heterogeneity of MDS. Defining the hierarchy of driver mutations provides insights into the process of transformation and may guide the search for novel therapeutic strategies.