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Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is considered an incurable hematologic malignancy despite a plethora of standard and novel agents. There is no consensus on the optimal sequencing of available therapies in relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM), even in the second line setting. Novel agents such as selinexor (XPOVIO [X]), an oral, first-in-class selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) compound that blocks XPO1, or those that target B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), have shown significant activity in RRMM. X is approved with bortezomib (V) and dexamethasone (XVd) in patients (pts) with at least 1 prior therapy and is not associated with known long-term clinically significant toxicities such as visual loss, cardiac dysfunction, renal failure, neuropathy, irreversible bone marrow suppression, second malignancies, venous thromboembolism, or rash. Currently, BCMA-targeting agents include 1 form each of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) and antibody drug conjugate (ADC) therapy approved in RRMM: idecabtagene vicleucel and belantamab mafodotin, respectively. BCMA-refractory MM represents an area of unmet need in MM without known standards for best treatment. Various novel combinations with X have demonstrated strong benefit in RRMM after 1 or more lines of therapy and activity even in CAR-T cell BCMA-refractory MM (N=7): 1 pt stringent complete (sCR), 3 very good partial (VGPR), 2 partial (PR), and 1 minimal (MR) response (Chari BJH 2020). Here we report on the outcomes of heavily pretreated RRMM pts, a majority of whom had received ADC-BCMA, and who were treated with X-containing regimens on the STOMP trial. Methods STOMP (NCT02343042) is a phase 1b/2, multi-arm, open-label trial of various combinations of X with backbone agents for pts with RRMM or newly diagnosed MM. Here we report on all pts in STOMP with prior anti-BCMA treatment who were treated on STOMP with X+pomalidomide +dexamethasone (XPd); XVd; X+carfilzomib+d (XKd); XPVd; and XPd+elotuzumab (E) (XPEd). Results In total, 11 pts with prior anti-BCMA therapy (6 pts with belantamab mafodotin; 1 each with MEDI2228, SEA-BCMA, BCMA BITE; 2 with idecabtagene vicleucel) were treated with 5 X-containing regimens (Table 1): 9 pts were treated with triplets XPd (4), XVd (3), or XKd (2) and 2 pts with quadruplets XPVd (1) or XPEd (1). Median age was 71 years (range 46-85), 7 pts (63.6%) were women, 11 pts were white. Median duration from MM diagnosis to treatment with a STOMP regimen was 6.9 years (range 2.3-12.8). Five pts (45.5%) had high-risk cytogenetics; pts received median of 6 prior therapies (range 4-10). Eight pts (72.7%) received anti-BCMA in their immediate prior line of therapy. Ten pts (90.9%) were previously treated with all backbone drugs of the STOMP treatments (i.e., X was the only new drug). The overall response rate (ORR) and clinical benefit rate (CBR) for the prior anti-BCMA-containing regimens were 40.0% (2 pts VGPR, 2 PR, 5 stable disease [SD], 1 progressive disease, 1 unknown). Median progression free survival (PFS) was 1.8 months (95% CI: 1.5, NE), and the 6-month PFS probability was 12.5% (95% CI: 2.1, 76.2). ORR for the X-based treatments was 54.5% and CBR was 81.8%: 1 pt VGPR, 5 PR, 3 MR, 2 SD. Median PFS was not reached (95% CI: 5.9, NE) and the 6-month PFS probability was 68.6% (95% CI: 40.3, 100.0). Median overall survival was 10.5 months (95% CI: 9.6, NE) and median time to discontinuation was 8.1 months (95% CI: 6.1, NE). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were nausea and thrombocytopenia. Nausea was Grade (G) 1/2 (n=8, 72.7%); thrombocytopenia G1-4 in 8 pts (72.7%), 4 with ≥G3; there were no concurrent bleeding events. One pt on XPEd died of pulmonary nocardiosis considered to be associated with the 4-drug regimen. No new safety signals or long-term toxicities due to X were reported. Conclusions In this follow-up cohort of heavily pretreated pts, a majority of whom with MM refractory to ADC-BCMA, we demonstrate impressive potency and durability of the X-based treatments, particularly as compared to that of their prior anti-BCMA therapies. These data support the rationale for the development of novel regimens containing X plus immunomodulatory drugs or proteasome inhibitors in earlier lines of therapy, including first relapse, and further suggest their strong value in the emerging BCMA RRMM space. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Baljevic: Exelixis: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen Research: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Gasparetto: Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gsk: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Oncopeptide: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Schiller: Sangamo: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celator: Research Funding; Geron: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; PrECOG: Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Pfizer: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding; Genentech-Roche: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Deciphera: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Regimmune: Research Funding; FujiFilm: Research Funding; Gamida Cell Ltd.: Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Mateon: Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Arog: Research Funding; Delta-Fly: Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding; Samus: Research Funding; Actuate: Research Funding; Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Research Funding; Trovagene: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Elevate: Research Funding; Bio: Research Funding; Ono-UK: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharma: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Biomed Valley Discoveries: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; ASH foundation: Other: Chair-unpaid; Sellas: Research Funding; Ono: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Ariad: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Kaiser Permanente: Consultancy; Cyclacel: Research Funding; MedImmune: Research Funding; Ambit: Research Funding; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingleheim: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Research Funding; National Marrow Donor Program: Research Funding; NIH: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Pharmamar: Research Funding; UC Davis: Research Funding; UCSD: Research Funding; Evidera: Consultancy; NCI: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Tuchman: Caelum: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi / Genzyme: Consultancy, Research Funding; Shattuck Labs: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy. Lentzsch: Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celularity: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Caelum Biosciences: Consultancy, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; Ossium Health: Consultancy; Magenta Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Kadmon: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Monge: Karyopharm: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy. Kotb: Celgene: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Honoraria, Research Funding; Akcea: Honoraria. Bahlis: GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Consultancy. White: Forus: Consultancy, Honoraria; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria. Chen: BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: 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; Astrazeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Beigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy. Sutherland: GSK: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy. Madan: Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Speakers Bureau. Leblanc: Celgene/BMS: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene Canada: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen Canada: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen Canada: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi Canada: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda Canada: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sebag: Janssen: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers-Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Venner: Janssen: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Bensinger: BMS, Janssen, Poseida, Regeneron, Trillium: Research Funding; Amgen, BMS, Janssen, Sanofi: Speakers Bureau. DeCastro: Karyopharm: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Van Domelen: Karyopharm: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Bentur: Karyopharm Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Zhang: Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Shah: Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Shacham: Karyopharm: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties: (8999996, 9079865, 9714226, PCT/US12/048319, and I574957) on hydrazide containing nuclear transport modulators and uses, and pending patents PCT/US12/048319, 499/2012, PI20102724, and 2012000928) . Kauffman: Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lipe: Seagen Inc.: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; sanofi: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; amgen: Research Funding; Cellectar: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Harpoon: Research Funding.

BackgroundPlatelet transfusion carries risk of transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI). Pathogen reduction of platelet components (PRPC) is designed to reduce TTI. Pulmonary adverse events (AEs), including transfusion-related acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occur with platelet transfusion.Study designAn open label, sequential cohort study of transfusion-dependent hematology-oncology patients was conducted to compare pulmonary safety of PRPC with conventional PC (CPC). The primary outcome was the incidence of treatment-emergent assisted mechanical ventilation (TEAMV) by non-inferiority. Secondary outcomes included: time to TEAMV, ARDS, pulmonary AEs, peri-transfusion AE, hemorrhagic AE, transfusion reactions (TRs), PC and red blood cell (RBC) use, and mortality.ResultsBy modified intent-to-treat (mITT), 1068 patients received 5277 PRPC and 1223 patients received 5487 CPC. The cohorts had similar demographics, primary disease, and primary therapy. PRPC were non-inferior to CPC for TEAMV (treatment difference -1.7%, 95% CI: (-3.3% to -0.1%); odds ratio=0.53, 95% CI: (0.30, 0.94). The cumulative incidence of TEAMV for PRPC (2.9%) was significantly less than CPC (4.6%, p= .039). The incidence of ARDS was less, but not significantly different, for PRPC (1.0% vs. 1.8%, p= .151; odds ratio=0.57, 95% CI: (0.27, 1.18). AE, pulmonary AE, and mortality were not different between cohorts. TRs were similar for PRPC and CPC (8.3% vs. 9.7%, p= .256); and allergic TR were significantly less with PRPC (p= .006). PC and RBC use were not increased with PRPC.DiscussionPRPC demonstrated reduced TEAMV with no excess treatment-related pulmonary morbidity.

CART19/20 cell product characteristics. (A) % CD4+ among total T cells and CAR-expressing T cells. (B) Comparison of T-cell subtype frequency among CD4+ vs. CD8+ T cells in cryopreserved CART19/20 cell products. Te/exh: effector/exhausted T cells, CD45RA+/CD45RO–/CD62L–; Tem: effector-memory T cells, CD45RA–/CD45RO+/CD62L–; Tcm: central-memory T cells: CD45RA–/CD45RO+/CD62L+; naïve: CD45RA+/CD45RO–/CD62L+. (C) Phenotype of leukopak content prior to cell isolation. (D) Phenotype of cells obtained after isolation. (E) CD14 and CD25 expression patterns among CD62L+ cells in patient leukopak content prior to cell isolation.

To address antigen escape and loss of T-cell functionality, we report a phase I clinical trial (NCT04007029) evaluating autologous naive and memory T (TN/MEM) cells engineered to express a bispecific anti-CD19/CD20 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR; CART19/20) for patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with safety as the primary endpoint. Ten patients were treated with 36 × 106 to 165 × 106 CART19/20 cells. No patient experienced neurotoxicity of any grade or over grade 1 cytokine release syndrome. One case of dose-limiting toxicity (persistent cytopenia) was observed. Nine of 10 patients achieved objective response [90% overall response rate (ORR)], with seven achieving complete remission [70% complete responses (CR) rate]. One patient relapsed after 18 months in CR but returned to CR after receiving a second dose of CART19/20 cells. Median progression-free survival was 18 months and median overall survival was not reached with a 17-month median follow-up. In conclusion, CART19/20 TN/MEM cells are safe and effective in patients with relapsed/refractory NHL, with durable responses achieved at low dosage levels.Significance:Autologous CD19/CD20 bispecific CAR-T cell therapy generated from TN/MEM cells for patients with NHL is safe (no neurotoxicity, maximum grade 1 cytokine release syndrome) and demonstrates strong efficacy (90% ORR, 70% CR rate) in a first-in-human, phase I dose-escalation trial.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517

Representativeness of study participants

Supplementary Tables and Figure

Purpose:The Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a master regulator of mitosis and overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We conducted a phase Ib study of the PLK1 inhibitor, onvansertib, in combination with either low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) or decitabine in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML.Patients and Methods:Onvansertib was administered orally, in escalating doses, on days 1–5 in combination with either LDAC (20 mg/m2; days 1–10) or decitabine (20 mg/m2; days 1–5) in a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was to evaluate first-cycle dose-limiting toxicities and the MTD. Secondary and exploratory endpoints included safety, pharmacokinetics, antileukemic activity, and response biomarkers.Results:Forty patients were treated with onvansertib (12–90 mg/m2) in combination with LDAC (n = 17) or decitabine (n = 23). Onvansertib was well tolerated with most grades 3 and 4 adverse events related to myelosuppression. In the decitabine arm, the MTD was established at 60 mg/m2, and 5 (24%) of the 21 evaluable patients achieved complete remission with or without hematologic count recovery. Decrease in mutant circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) during the first cycle of therapy was associated with clinical response. Engagement of the PLK1 target, TCTP, was measured in circulating blasts and was associated with greater decrease in bone marrow blasts.Conclusions:The onvansertib and decitabine combination was well tolerated and had antileukemic activity particularly in patients with target engagement and decreased mutant ctDNA following treatment. This combination will be further investigated in the ongoing phase II trial.

Detailed list of variants identified by targeted-NGS

Patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) need proven subsequent therapies after early-line lenalidomide treatment failure. The phase 2 MM-014 trial (NCT01946477) investigated pomalidomide, dexamethasone, and daratumumab after 1 to 2 prior treatment lines (62.5%, 1 prior line) in patients with RRMM and prior lenalidomide (75.0%, lenalidomide refractory). With a median follow-up of 28.4 months, overall response rate was 77.7% (52.7% achieved very good partial response or better) and median progression-free survival was 30.8 months. For patients with lenalidomide-refractory disease, these outcomes were 76.2%, 47.6%, and 23.7 months, respectively. No new safety signals were observed; 64.3% experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia. Health-related quality of life was preserved or trended toward improvement through 12 treatment cycles. Pomalidomide, dexamethasone, and daratumumab given immediately after early-line lenalidomide-based treatment continues to demonstrate safety and efficacy, supporting pomalidomide-dexamethasone as a foundation of combination therapy in RRMM and providing evidence that the immunomodulatory agent class delivers benefit after lenalidomide treatment failure.

PURPOSE Standard cytotoxic induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) results in prolonged neutropenia and risk of infection. Romyelocel-L is a universal, allogeneic myeloid progenitor cell product being studied to reduce infection during induction chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred sixty-three patients with de novo AML (age ≥ 55 years) receiving induction chemotherapy were randomly assigned on day 0 (d0), of whom 120 were evaluable. Subjects received either romyelocel-L infusion on d9 with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) starting daily d14 (treatment group) or G-CSF daily alone on d14 (control) until absolute neutrophil count recovery to 500/µL. End points included days in febrile episode, microbiologically defined infections, clinically diagnosed infection, and days in hospital. RESULTS Mean days in febrile episode was shorter in the treatment arm from d15 through d28 (2.36 v 3.90; P = .02). Similarly, a trend toward decreased microbiologically defined infections and clinically diagnosed infection in the treatment arm was observed from d9 to d28 (35.6% v 47.5%; P = .09), reaching a statistically significant difference from d15 to d28 (6.8% v 27.9%; P = .002). Because of this, antibacterial or antifungal use for treatment of an infection was significantly less in the treatment group (d9-d28: 44.1% v 63.9%; P = .01). Significantly fewer patients in the treatment arm received empiric antifungals from d9 tod28 (42.4% v 63.9%; P = .02) and d15-d28 (42.4% v 62.3%; P = .02). Patients in the treatment arm also had 3.2 fewer hospital days compared with control (25.5 v 28.7; P = .001). Remission rates and days to absolute neutrophil count recovery were similar in the two groups. No patients in the romyelocel-L plus G-CSF group died because of infection compared with two patients in the control arm. No graft-versus-host disease was observed. CONCLUSION Subjects receiving romyelocel-L showed a decreased incidence of infections, antimicrobial use, and hospitalization, suggesting that romyelocel-L may provide a new option to reduce infections in patients with AML undergoing induction therapy.

To address antigen escape and loss of T-cell functionality, we report a phase I clinical trial (NCT04007029) evaluating autologous naive and memory T (TN/MEM) cells engineered to express a bispecific anti-CD19/CD20 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR; CART19/20) for patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with safety as the primary endpoint. Ten patients were treated with 36 × 106 to 165 × 106 CART19/20 cells. No patient experienced neurotoxicity of any grade or over grade 1 cytokine release syndrome. One case of dose-limiting toxicity (persistent cytopenia) was observed. Nine of 10 patients achieved objective response [90% overall response rate (ORR)], with seven achieving complete remission [70% complete responses (CR) rate]. One patient relapsed after 18 months in CR but returned to CR after receiving a second dose of CART19/20 cells. Median progression-free survival was 18 months and median overall survival was not reached with a 17-month median follow-up. In conclusion, CART19/20 TN/MEM cells are safe and effective in patients with relapsed/refractory NHL, with durable responses achieved at low dosage levels.Significance:Autologous CD19/CD20 bispecific CAR-T cell therapy generated from TN/MEM cells for patients with NHL is safe (no neurotoxicity, maximum grade 1 cytokine release syndrome) and demonstrates strong efficacy (90% ORR, 70% CR rate) in a first-in-human, phase I dose-escalation trial.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517

International audience; BACKGROUND: Despite treatment with novel therapies and allogeneic stem-cell transplant (allo-SCT) consolidation, outcomes in adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia remain poor, underlining the need for more effective therapies. METHODS: We report the pivotal phase 2 results of ZUMA-3, an international, multicentre, single-arm, open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy KTE-X19 in adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Patients were enrolled at 25 sites in the USA, Canada, and Europe. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, and morphological disease in the bone marrow (>5% blasts). After leukapheresis and conditioning chemotherapy, patients received a single KTE-X19 infusion (1 × 10(6) CAR T cells per kg bodyweight). The primary endpoint was the rate of overall complete remission or complete remission with incomplete haematological recovery by central assessment. Duration of remission and relapse-free survival, overall survival, minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate, and allo-SCT rate were assessed as secondary endpoints. Efficacy and safety analyses were done in the treated population (all patients who received a dose of KTE-X19). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02614066. FINDINGS: Between Oct 1, 2018, and Oct 9, 2019, 71 patients were enrolled and underwent leukapheresis. KTE-X19 was successfully manufactured for 65 (92%) patients and administered to 55 (77%). The median age of treated patients was 40 years (IQR 28-52). At the median follow-up of 16·4 months (13·8-19·6), 39 patients (71%; 95% CI 57-82, p

Summary Background Daunorubicin and cytarabine are used as standard induction chemotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. CPX-351 is a dual-drug liposomal encapsulation of daunorubicin and cytarabine in a synergistic 1:5 molar ratio. Primary analysis of the phase 3 trial in adults aged 60–75 years with newly diagnosed high-risk or secondary acute myeloid leukaemia provided support for approval of CPX-351 by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency. We describe the prospectively planned final 5-year follow-up results. Methods This randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial was done across 39 academic and regional cancer centres in the USA and Canada. Eligible patients were aged 60–75 years and had a pathological diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia according to WHO 2008 criteria, no previous induction therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–2. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 (stratified by age and acute myeloid leukaemia subtype) to receive up to two induction cycles of CPX-351 (100 units/m2 administered as a 90-min intravenous infusion on days 1, 3, and 5; on days 1 and 3 for the second induction) or standard chemotherapy (cytarabine 100 mg/m2 per day continuous intravenous infusion for 7 days plus intravenous daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3 [7+3]; cytarabine for 5 days and daunorubicin on days 1 and 2 for the second induction [5+2]). Patients with complete remission or complete remission with incomplete neutrophil or platelet recovery could receive up to tw cycles of consolidation therapy with CPX-351 (65 units/m2 90-min infusion on days 1 and 3) or chemotherapy (5+2, same dosage as in the second induction cycle). The primary outcome was overall survival analysed in all randomly assigned patients. No additional adverse events were collected with long-term follow-up, except data for deaths. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT01696084 , and is complete. Findings Between Dec 20, 2012, and Nov 11, 2014, 309 patients with newly diagnosed high-risk or secondary acute myeloid leukaemia were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive CPX-351 (153 patients) or 7+3 (156 patients). At a median follow-up of 60·91 months (IQR 60·06–62·98) in the CPX-351 group and 59·93 months (59·73–60·50) in the 7+3 group, median overall survival was 9·33 months (95% CI 6·37–11·86) with CPX-351 and 5·95 months (4·99–7·75) with 7+3 (HR 0·70, 95% CI 0·55–0·91). 5-year overall survival was 18% (95% CI 12–25%) in the CPX-351 group and 8% (4–13%) in the 7+3 group. The most common cause of death in both groups was progressive leukaemia (70 [56%] of 124 deaths in the CPX-351 group and 74 [53%] of 140 deaths in the 7+3 group). Six (5%) of 124 deaths in the CPX-351 group and seven (5%) of 140 deaths in the 7+3 group were considered related to study treatment. Interpretation After 5 years of follow-up, the improved overall survival with CPX-351 versus 7+3 was maintained, which supports the previous evidence that CPX-351 can contribute to long-term remission and improved overall survival in patients aged 60–75 years with newly diagnosed high-risk or secondary acute myeloid leukaemia. Funding Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

CPX-351, a dual-drug liposomal encapsulation of daunorubicin/cytarabine in a synergistic 1:5 molar ratio, is approved for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed, therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC). In a pivotal phase 3 study, patients aged 60 to 75 years with newly diagnosed, high-risk/secondary AML were randomized to receive CPX-351 or conventional 7+3 chemotherapy. In the primary endpoint analysis, CPX-351 demonstrated significantly prolonged median overall survival (OS) vs 7+3. These exploratory post hoc subgroup analyses evaluated the impact of achieving complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete neutrophil or platelet recovery (CRi) with CPX-351 (73/153 [48%]) vs conventional 7+3 (52/56 [33%]) on outcomes. CPX-351 improved median OS vs 7+3 in patients who achieved CR or CRi (25.43 vs 10.41 months; hazard ratio = 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.31, 0.77). Improved median OS was seen across AML subtypes (t-AML, AML-MRC), age subgroups (60 to 69 vs 70 to 75 years), patients with prior hypomethylating agent exposure, and patients who did not undergo transplantation. Patients who achieved CR or CRi with CPX-351 also had a higher rate of transplantation, a longer median OS landmarked from the date of transplantation (not reached vs 11.65 months; hazard ratio = 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.21, 0.89), and a safety profile that was consistent with the known safety profile of 7+3. These results suggest deeper remissions may be achieved with CPX-351, leading to improved OS. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01696084.

The fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor gilteritinib improved the survival of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) FLT3-mutated acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in the phase 3 ADMIRAL trial. In this study, we assessed survival and relapse rates of patients in the ADMIRAL trial who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), as well as safety outcomes in patients who received post-transplantation gilteritinib maintenance therapy. ADMIRAL was a global phase 3 randomized controlled trial that enrolled adult patients with FLT3-mutated R/R AML. Patients with R/R AML who harbored FLT3 internal tandem duplication mutations in the juxtamembrane domain or D835/I836 point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain were randomized (2:1) to gilteritinib (120 mg/day) or to preselected high- or low-intensity salvage chemotherapy (1 or 2 cycles). Patients in the gilteritinib arm who proceeded to HSCT could receive post-transplantation gilteritinib maintenance therapy if they were within 30 to 90 days post-transplantation and had achieved composite complete remission (CRc) with successful engraftment and no post-transplantation complications. Adverse events (AEs) during HSCT were recorded in the gilteritinib arm only. Survival outcomes and the cumulative incidence of relapse were assessed in patients who underwent HSCT during the trial. Treatment-emergent AEs were evaluated in patients who restarted gilteritinib as post-transplantation maintenance therapy. Patients in the gilteritinib arm underwent HSCT more frequently than those in the chemotherapy arm (26% [n = 64] versus 15% [n = 19]). For all transplantation recipients, 12- and 24-month overall survival (OS) rates were 68% and 47%, respectively. Despite a trend toward longer OS after pretransplantation CRc, post-transplantation survival was comparable in the 2 arms. Patients who resumed gilteritinib after HSCT had a low relapse rate after pretransplantation CRc (20%) or CR (0%). The most common AEs observed with post-transplantation gilteritinib therapy were increased alanine aminotransferase level (40%), pyrexia (43%), and diarrhea (40%); grade ≥3 AEs were related primarily to myelosuppression. The incidences of grade ≥III acute graft-versus-host disease and related mortality were low. Post-transplantation survival was similar across the 2 study arms in the ADMIRAL trial, but higher remission rates with gilteritinib facilitated receipt of HSCT. Gilteritinib as post-transplantation maintenance therapy had a stable safety and tolerability profile and was associated with low relapse rates. Taken together, these data support a preference for bridging therapy with gilteritinib over chemotherapy in transplantation-eligible patients.

Purpose: The Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a master regulator of mitosis and overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We conducted a phase Ib study of the PLK1 inhibitor, onvansertib, in combination with either low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) or decitabine in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML. Patients and Methods: Onvansertib was administered orally, in escalating doses, on days 1–5 in combination with either LDAC (20 mg/m2; days 1–10) or decitabine (20 mg/m2; days 1–5) in a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was to evaluate first-cycle dose-limiting toxicities and the MTD. Secondary and exploratory endpoints included safety, pharmacokinetics, antileukemic activity, and response biomarkers. Results: Forty patients were treated with onvansertib (12–90 mg/m2) in combination with LDAC (n = 17) or decitabine (n = 23). Onvansertib was well tolerated with most grades 3 and 4 adverse events related to myelosuppression. In the decitabine arm, the MTD was established at 60 mg/m2, and 5 (24%) of the 21 evaluable patients achieved complete remission with or without hematologic count recovery. Decrease in mutant circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) during the first cycle of therapy was associated with clinical response. Engagement of the PLK1 target, TCTP, was measured in circulating blasts and was associated with greater decrease in bone marrow blasts. Conclusions: The onvansertib and decitabine combination was well tolerated and had antileukemic activity particularly in patients with target engagement and decreased mutant ctDNA following treatment. This combination will be further investigated in the ongoing phase II trial.

Background: Resistance to venetoclax, a BCL2 inhibitor, has been shown to be mediated by co-expression of other BCL2 proteins including BCLXL and MCL1 in relapsed/refractory AML (R/R AML). Therapeutic agents reducing resistance to BCL2 inhibitors and exhibiting anti-tumor activity could synergize with venetoclax to increase response rates further. One approach to enhance the potency of venetoclax is through combination with targeted radiotherapy. Studies in tumor cells have shown that DNA damage reduces the level of MCL1, a known mediator of venetoclax resistance. The monoclonal antibody radioconjugate, lintuzumab-Ac225, is a highly cytotoxic alpha-radiation emitter that selectively targets CD33, a cell surface antigen expressed on majority of AML cells. The high-energy alpha-particle emissions from lintuzumab-Ac225 as a single agent elicits single and double-strand DNA breaks in targeted tumor cells as demonstrated from prior clinical studies. (ASH 2017, 2018). In venetoclax-resistant cell lines in vitro, lintuzumab-Ac225 promotes MCL1 degradation through DNA damage resulting in increased cell sensitivity to venetoclax. Similarly, mouse xenograft models with venetoclax-resistant AML tumor lines demonstrated tumor regression and increased survival in mice receiving both venetoclax and lintuzumab-Ac225. The aims of this phase I/II study are to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of lintuzumab-Ac225 in combination with venetoclax in R/R AML. Study Design: The Phase I portion of the study uses a 3+3 dose-escalation design to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of lintuzumab-Ac225 when given in combination with venetoclax. The dose levels for lintuzumab-Ac225 are 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 µCi/kg. The Phase II portion of the study will enroll up to an additional 20 patients and treat with the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) with venetoclax to determine the best overall response (CR+CRh+CRi) up to 6 months after starting treatment. Eligible patients include R/R-AML patients aged 18 years and older with adequate organ function, ECOG Performance Status 0-2, and more than 25% CD33 positive of leukemic blasts by flow cytometry. Patients with antecedent MDS, MPNs, or therapy-related AML are eligible. During Cycle 1, venetoclax dosing will be ramped up during the first 4 days in order to minimize the risk of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). After Cycle 1, all patients will receive venetoclax at 400 mg/day PO on Days 1 to 21 of each cycle. Lintuzumab-Ac225 is administered as a single dose on Day 5 of each cycle. Results: Ten R/R AML patients were treated with lintuzumab-Ac225 at 0.5 µCi/kg (n=3), 0.75 µCi/kg (n=6) and 1.0 µCi/kg (n=1) in combination with venetoclax in the phase I dose escalation portion as of 1-August-2021. The median age was 67 years (range 49-83) with 5/10 (50%) refractory; 8/10 (80%) had unfavorable risk (ELN). Three patients were enrolled on the first cohort at dose level 0.5 µCi/kg of lintuzumab-Ac225 and showed clinically acceptable safety profile with no DLTs. In addition, one patient achieved CRi at the end of cycle 1. Results from the first cohort were encouraging and acceptable for dose escalation. An intermediate Cohort 2B at dose level 0.75 µCi/kg, was implemented. To date, 6 patients were enrolled on cohort 2B, and based on the Safety Committee recommendation, dose level at 1.0 µCi/kg may be resumed. In preliminary data on all patients, lintuzumab-Ac225 treatment-related grades 3/4 adverse events (AEs) include hematologic AEs and only one count of non-hematologic event (hyponatremia) (Table 1). There were no early deaths (≤30d) in any cohort. Overall, lintuzumab-Ac225 can be combined with venetoclax with a manageable toxicity profile. While sample size is limited, ORR (CR/CRi) for all R/R AML patients and TP53-mutant R/R patients were 20% (2/10) and 67% (2/3), respectively. Updated safety and response data will be presented at ASH2021. Conclusion: Combining lintuzumab-Ac225 with venetoclax in patients with R/R AML has an acceptable clinical safety profile with 0% 30-day mortality rate. 67% ORR is particularly encouraging in TP53-mutant R/R AML. These data support the further evaluation of lintuzumab-Ac225 in combination with venetoclax in patients with R/R AML, especially in TP53-mutant R/R patients. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Schiller: FujiFilm: Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding; Gamida Cell Ltd.: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Geron: Research Funding; Mateon: Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Pfizer: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding; PrECOG: Research Funding; Regimmune: Research Funding; Delta-Fly: Research Funding; Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Research Funding; Actuate: Research Funding; Samus: Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Deciphera: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sangamo: Research Funding; Genentech-Roche: Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Trovagene: Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Elevate: Research Funding; Bio: Research Funding; Ono-UK: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharma: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Biomed Valley Discoveries: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; ASH foundation: Other: Chair-unpaid; Sellas: Research Funding; Ono: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Ariad: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Kaiser Permanente: Consultancy; Cyclacel: Research Funding; MedImmune: Research Funding; Ambit: Research Funding; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingleheim: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Research Funding; National Marrow Donor Program: Research Funding; NIH: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Pharmamar: Research Funding; UC Davis: Research Funding; UCSD: Research Funding; Evidera: Consultancy; NCI: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Finn: Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Roboz: Mesoblast: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Astex: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Orozco: Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: site PI for clinical trial(s) sponsored by Actinium, Research Funding. Lin: Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Chen: Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. OffLabel Disclosure: Venetoclax use in relapsed-refractory AML