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ABSTRACT The fungal kingdom has provided advances in our ability to identify biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and to examine how gene composition of BGCs evolves across species and genera. However, little is known about the evolution of specific BGC regulators that mediate how BGCs produce secondary metabolites (SMs). A bioinformatics search for conservation of the Aspergillus fumigatus xanthocillin BGC revealed an evolutionary trail of xan-like BGCs across Eurotiales species. Although the critical regulatory and enzymatic genes were conserved in Penicillium expansum, overexpression (OE) of the conserved xan BGC transcription factor (TF) gene, PexanC, failed to activate the putative xan BGC transcription or xanthocillin production in P. expansum, in contrast to the role of AfXanC in A. fumigatus. Surprisingly, OE::PexanC was instead found to promote citrinin synthesis in P. expansum via trans induction of the cit pathway-specific TF, ctnA, as determined by cit BGC expression and chemical profiling of ctnA deletion and OE::PexanC single and double mutants. OE::AfxanC results in significant increases of xan gene expression and metabolite synthesis in A. fumigatus but had no effect on either xanthocillin or citrinin production in P. expansum. Bioinformatics and promoter mutation analysis led to the identification of an AfXanC binding site, 5′-AGTCAGCA-3′, in promoter regions of the A. fumigatus xan BGC genes. This motif was not in the ctnA promoter, suggesting a different binding site of PeXanC. A compilation of a bioinformatics examination of XanC orthologs and the presence/absence of the 5′-AGTCAGCA-3′ binding motif in xan BGCs in multiple Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. supports an evolutionary divergence of XanC regulatory targets that we speculate reflects an exaptation event in the Eurotiales. IMPORTANCE Fungal secondary metabolites (SMs) are an important source of pharmaceuticals on one hand and toxins on the other. Efforts to identify the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that synthesize SMs have yielded significant insights into how variation in the genes that compose BGCs may impact subsequent metabolite production within and between species. However, the role of regulatory genes in BGC activation is less well understood. Our finding that the bZIP transcription factor XanC, located in the xanthocillin BGC of both Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium expansum, has functionally diverged to regulate different BGCs in these two species emphasizes that the diversification of BGC regulatory elements may sometimes occur through exaptation, which is the co-option of a gene that evolved for one function to a novel function. Furthermore, this work suggests that the loss/gain of transcription factor binding site targets may be an important mediator in the evolution of secondary-metabolism regulatory elements.

ABSTRACT Aspergillus nidulans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen in patients with immunodeficiency, and virulence of A. nidulans isolates has mainly been studied in the context of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), with characterization of clinical isolates obtained from non-CGD patients remaining elusive. This study therefore carried out a detailed biological characterization of two A. nidulans clinical isolates (CIs), obtained from a patient with breast carcinoma and pneumonia and from a patient with cystic fibrosis that underwent lung transplantation, and compared them to the reference, nonclinical FGSC A4 strain. Both CIs presented increased growth in comparison to that of the reference strain in the presence of physiologically relevant carbon sources. Metabolomic analyses showed that the three strains are metabolically very different from each other in these carbon sources. Furthermore, the CIs were highly susceptible to cell wall-perturbing agents but not to other physiologically relevant stresses. Genome analyses identified several frameshift variants in genes encoding cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling components. Significant differences in CWI signaling were confirmed by Western blotting among the three strains. In vivo virulence studies using several different models revealed that strain MO80069 had significantly higher virulence in hosts with impaired neutrophil function than the other strains. In summary, this study presents detailed biological characterization of two A. nidulans sensu stricto clinical isolates. Just as in Aspergillus fumigatus, strain heterogeneity exists in A. nidulans clinical strains that can define virulence traits. Further studies are required to fully characterize A. nidulans strain-specific virulence traits and pathogenicity. IMPORTANCE Immunocompromised patients are susceptible to infections with opportunistic filamentous fungi from the genus Aspergillus. Although A. fumigatus is the main etiological agent of Aspergillus species-related infections, other species, such as A. nidulans, are prevalent in a condition-specific manner. A. nidulans is a predominant infective agent in patients suffering from chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). A. nidulans isolates have mainly been studied in the context of CGD although infection with A. nidulans also occurs in non-CGD patients. This study carried out a detailed biological characterization of two non-CGD A. nidulans clinical isolates and compared the results to those with a reference strain. Phenotypic, metabolomic, and genomic analyses highlight fundamental differences in carbon source utilization, stress responses, and maintenance of cell wall integrity among the strains. One clinical strain had increased virulence in models with impaired neutrophil function. Just as in A. fumigatus, strain heterogeneity exists in A. nidulans clinical strains that can define virulence traits.

Background: Evaluation of exenatide monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes may be of clinical interest based on improvements in glycemic control and weight that have been reported with the use of exenatide in combination with oral antidiabetic agents.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of exenatide monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes naive to antidiabetic agents and whose disease was inadequately controlled with diet and exercise alone.Methods: This 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was conducted at 23 centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, and India. Patients aged >/=18 years with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive exenatide 5 microg, exenatide 10 [micro]g, or placebo administered SC BID. Patients were instructed by investigators to maintain their individualized prestudy diet and exercise regimens throughout the study. Efficacy measures included: glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA[1c]); fasting serum glucose (FSG); 6-point self-monitored blood glucose; percentages of patients achieving HbA[1c] values /=1 treatment-emergent adverse event. Nausea was reported with the greatest incidence (5 [micro]g, 3%; 10 [micro]g, 13%; placebo, 0%; P = 0.010 for the combined exenatide group vs placebo). Most (88%) treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate in intensity. Hypoglycemia was reported in 5%, 4%, and 1% of patients in the exenatide 5- and 10-[micro]g and placebo groups, respectively (P = NS), with no incidents of severe hypoglycemia reported.Conclusions: In these patients with type 2 diabetes naive to treatment with antidiabetic agents, exenatide monotherapy was associated with improved HbA[1c], improved fasting and postprandial glucose control, reduced weight, improved beta-cell function (HOMA-B), and improved blood pressure, and was well tolerated. These results suggest that exenatide monotherapy may provide a viable treatment option beyond diet and exercise and support further study of exenatide monotherapy in antidiabetic drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exenatide therapy is effective in combination with metformin or sulfonylureas for treating type 2 diabetes. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) also are commonly used, but the efficacy of exenatide with a TZD has not been reported.Objective: To compare the effects of exenatide versus placebo on glycemic control.Design: Placebo run-in, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted from May 2004 to August 2005.Setting: 49 sites in Canada, Spain, and the United States.Patients: 233 (exenatide group, n = 121; placebo group, n = 112) patients with type 2 diabetes that was suboptimally controlled with TZD treatment (with or without metformin). Mean (+/-SE) baseline glycated hemoglobin A1c level was 7.9% +/- 0.1%.Interventions: Subcutaneous abdominal injections of 10 microg of exenatide or placebo twice daily, added to a TZD (with or without metformin) for 16 weeks.Measurements: The primary outcome was change from baseline in hemoglobin A1c level. Other outcomes were fasting serum glucose level, body weight, self-monitored blood glucose level, and any adverse events.Results: Exenatide treatment reduced hemoglobin A(1c) level (mean difference, -0.98% [95% CI, -1.21% to -0.74%]), serum fasting glucose level (mean difference, -1.69 mmol/L [-30.5 mg/dL] [CI, -2.22 to -1.17 mmol/L {-40.0 to -21.1 mg/dL}]), and body weight (mean difference, -1.51 kg [CI, -2.15 to -0.88 kg]). Sixteen percent of patients in the exenatide group and 2% of patients in the placebo group discontinued treatment because of adverse events. In the exenatide group, 40% (n = 48) of patients experienced nausea (mostly mild [n = 21] or moderate [n = 19]), 13% experienced vomiting, and 11% experienced hypoglycemia. In the placebo group, 15% of patients experienced nausea, 1% experienced vomiting, and 7% experienced hypoglycemia.Limitations: Combinations with TZDs and sulfonylureas were not tested. Trial duration was relatively short. Only 71% and 86% of patients in the exenatide and placebo groups, respectively, completed the study.Conclusions: Exenatide therapy improved glycemic control, reduced body weight, and caused gastrointestinal symptoms more than placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes that was suboptimally controlled with TZD therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00099320. For more information on exenatide click here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author announces the winners of the publication's 2010 "Article of Distinction" award. He expresses gratitude for being elected as editor of the publication by its editorial board and the foundation which published the periodical. It is also announced that membership in that board will be increased to 18 in 2011.

Autologous transplantation remains the standard of care for eligible multiple myeloma (MM) patients, yet optimal CD34 + cell dose remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective study on MM patients undergoing upfront transplant between 2005 and 2021 and divided them into low (≤2.5 × 10 6  cells/kg) and high (>2.5 × 10 6  cells/kg) CD34 + dose groups. We included 2479 patients, 95 in the low CD34 + group and 2384 in the high CD34 + group. Patients in the low CD34 + group were older (63.2 vs 61.1 years, p = 0.013), more often had R-ISS III (19% vs 9%, p = 0.014), received plerixafor (60% vs 35%, p < 0.001) and transplanted after 2009 (88% vs 80%, p = 0.047). Time to neutrophil and platelet recovery was longer in the low CD34 + group. Median PFS and OS were lower in the low CD34 + group (31.6 vs. 43.6 months, p = 0.011 and 76.4 vs. 108.2 months, p < 0.001, respectively). Evaluation of incrementally higher CD34 + dose did not show significant improvement in survival at thresholds >2.5 × 10 6  cells/kg. Multivariable analysis affirmed that CD34 + >2.5 × 10 6  cells/kg was associated with better PFS (HR 0.71, p = 0.008) and OS (0.59, p < 0.001). After propensity score matching, a CD34 + dose >2.5 × 10 6 cells/kg remained a predictor of better OS (0.42, p < 0.001). In conclusion, CD34 + dose >2.5 × 10 6 cells/kg was associated with improved survival, without any additional benefit at incrementally higher doses., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite tremendous advancements in multiple myeloma (MM) therapeutics, outcomes remain heterogeneous, heavily influenced by clinical and cytogenetic factors. Among these, deletion of the short arm of chromosome 17 (del(17p)) is a strong predictor of poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate real-world outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) with del(17p) undergoing upfront autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT). We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with NDMM who underwent upfront auto-HCT at MD Anderson Cancer Center between 2008 and 2018. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), with secondary endpoints being hematological response and measurable residual disease (MRD) status postauto-HCT. MRD status in the bone marrow biopsy was evaluated using 8-color next-generation flow cytometry with a sensitivity of 1/10 -5 cells. One hundred and fifteen patients were included (55% male). Median age at auto-HCT was 62 years (range 34 to 83). The median del(17p) clone size was 20%, with 51 (53%) patients having clone sizes >20% and 15 (15%) patients having clone sizes >55%. Additional high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities included t(4;14) in 15 (13%) patients, t(14;16) in 8 (7%) patients, and 1q21+ in 25 (22%) patients. After induction, 10% of patients achieved ≥ CR, and 50% achieved ≥ VGPR, with 25% having MRD-negative ≥ VGPR. Post-transplant, 42% achieved ≥ CR, and 83% achieved ≥ VGPR as best response, with 55% (48/87) having MRD-negative ≥ VGPR. With a median follow-up of 31.4 months (range 3.1 to 199.1), median PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 19.9 and 71.5 months, respectively, and 5-year OS was 53%. Concurrent del(17p) and t(4;14) were associated with significantly worse outcomes, with median PFS and OS of 11.5 and 22.4 months, respectively. In multivariable analysis (MVA), female sex was associated with worse PFS (HR [95% CI] 2.87 [1.75 to 4.72], P < .001), while MRD negative CR post-transplant (0.35 [0.18 to 0.68], P = .002) and maintenance therapy (0.46 [0.27 to 0.77], P = 0.003) were associated with better PFS. In MVA for OS, female sex (2.22 [1.18 to 4.17], P = 0.013) and the presence of t(4;14) (2.55 [1.09 to 5.95], P = 0.030) were associated with worse OS, whereas Karnofsky Performance Status of ≥90 (0.47 [0.23 to 0.94], P = 0.034) was associated with better OS. This study affirms del(17p) as a high-risk abnormality with unfavorable outcomes despite modern therapies. The co-occurrence of del(17p) and t(4;14) was associated with particularly poor outcomes. Novel approaches are needed for this high-risk subgroup., (Copyright © 2024 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Methods: Although signet ring cell (SRC) histology is associated with resistance to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and worse overall survival (OS) in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), its prognostic relationship among patients who survive the early period following resection is unknown. EAC patients who underwent trimodality therapy at a single institution (2006-2018) were identified. Bayesian multivariable regression (BMR) analyses of OS and additional OS from a 3-year landmark were performed., Results: Of 631 patients, SRCs were present in 16.0% (N = 101). SRC was associated with shorter median OS (45.8 [95% confidence interval: 31.0-96.7] vs. 79.8 [63.0-107.2] months; p = 0.014). In BMR analysis, the absence of an SRC component was moderately associated with improved OS (probability of beneficial effect, PBE = 0.879). Three-year conditional BMR analysis of additional OS (N = 357) showed that SRC status no longer had a prognostic effect (PBE = 0.546); higher pathological stage was strongly associated with worse additional OS (PBE < 0.001)., Conclusions: The presence of SRC portends worse OS following trimodality therapy for EAC. However, this prognostic impact is dynamic and abates by 3 years postoperatively. In contrast, a higher pathological stage is strongly associated with poor overall and 3-year conditional survival., Discussion: These findings may inform postoperative patient counseling and surveillance protocols., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) remains standard of care for eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), although recently its role has been questioned. The aim of the study was to evaluate trends in patient characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of NDMM who underwent upfront auto-SCT over three decades. We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with NDMM who underwent upfront auto-SCT at MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1988 to 2021. Primary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients were grouped by the year of auto-SCT: 1988-2000 (n = 249), 2001-2005 (n = 373), 2006-2010 (n = 568), 2011-2015 (n = 815) and 2016-2021 (n = 1036). High-risk cytogenetic abnormalities were defined as del (17p), t (4;14), t (14;16), and 1q21 gain or amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization. We included 3041 MM patients in the analysis. Median age at auto-SCT increased from 52 years (1988-2000) to 62 years (2016-2021), as did the incidence of high-risk cytogenetics from 15% to 40% (P < .001). Comorbidity burden, as measured by a Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) of >3, increased from 17% (1988-2000) to 28% (2016-2021) (P < .001). Induction regimens evolved from predominantly chemotherapy to immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) and proteasome inhibitor (PI) based regimens, with 74% of patients receiving IMiD-PI triplets in 2016-2021 (39% bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRD) and 35% carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone [KRD]). Response rates prior to auto-SCT steadily increased, with 4% and 10% achieving a ≥CR and ≥VGPR compared to 19% and 65% between 1988-2000 and 2016-2021, respectively. Day 100 response rates post auto-SCT improved from 24% and 49% achieving ≥CR and ≥VGPR between 1988-2000 to 41% and 81% between 2016-2021, respectively. Median PFS improved from 22.3 months between 1988-2000 to 58.6 months between 2016-2021 (HR 0.42, P < .001). Among patients with high-risk cytogenetics, median PFS increased from 13.7 months to 36.8 months (HR 0.32, P < .001). Patients aged ≥65 years also had an improvement in median PFS from 33.6 months between 2001 and 2005 to 52.8 months between 2016-2021 (HR 0.56, P = .001). Median OS improved from 55.1 months between 1988-2000 to not reached (HR 0.41, P < .001). Patients with high-risk cytogenetics had an improvement in median OS from 32.9 months to 66.5 months between 2016-2021 (HR 0.39, P < .001). Day 100 non-relapse mortality from 2001 onwards was ≤1%. Age-adjust rates of second primary malignancies were similar in patients transplanted in different time periods. Despite increasing patient age and comorbidity burden, this large real-world study demonstrated significant improvements in the depth of response and survival outcomes in patients with NDMM undergoing upfront auto-SCT over the past three decades, including those with high-risk disease., (Copyright © 2024 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Context.—: Transition from pathology trainee to independent pathologist is stressful. No study has examined junior pathologists' challenges and concerns during this transition., Objective.—: To identify challenges and concerns of junior pathologists., Design.—: Junior pathologists were defined as those who had been practicing independently for up to 5 years after completion of residency/fellowship. An institutional review board-approved electronic survey was created and distributed to recent pathology graduates of MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas) and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, District of Columbia). The survey was open from October 13, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The survey included 16 multiple-choice and free-text questions., Results.—: Responses were received from 39 junior pathologists. Participants working in academic settings indicated independence, work-life balance, and professional identity formation as challenges; those in nonacademic settings indicated pathology reporting, efficiency, and administration as challenges. Areas where participants wished they received more guidance differed by practice setting: participants in academic settings more often chose effective time management and importance of turnaround time (35% [7 of 20] versus 0% [0 of 14], P = .03) and tumor board conference presentation skills (25% [5 of 20] versus 0% [0 of 14], P = .06), while those in nonacademic settings more often chose Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding, billing, and cost-effective patient care (79% [11 of 14] versus (35% [7 of 20]; P = .02). More female than male participants indicated that they wished they had received more guidance in leadership and soft skills (79% [11 of 14] versus 28% [5 of 18]; P = .01)., Conclusions.—: This study identified challenges experienced by junior pathologists. Collective efforts from training programs, experienced pathologists, and professional organizations can explore ways to improve the transition experience., (© 2024 College of American Pathologists.)

Context.—: In the United States, review of digital whole slide images (WSIs) using specific systems is approved for primary diagnosis but has not been implemented for intraoperative consultation., Objective.—: To evaluate the safety of review of WSIs and compare the efficiency of review of WSIs and glass slides (GSs) for intraoperative consultation., Design.—: Ninety-one cases previously submitted for frozen section evaluation were randomly selected from 8 different anatomic pathology subspecialties. GSs from these cases were scanned on a Leica Aperio AT2 scanner at ×20 magnification (0.25 μm/pixel). The slides were deidentified, and a short relevant clinical history was provided for each slide. Nine board-certified general pathologists who do not routinely establish primary diagnoses using WSIs reviewed the WSIs using Leica Aperio ImageScope viewing software. After a washout period of 2-3 weeks, the pathologists reviewed the corresponding GSs using a light microscope (Olympus BX43). The pathologists recorded the diagnosis and time to reach the diagnosis. Intraobserver concordance, time to diagnosis, and specificity and sensitivity compared to the original diagnosis were evaluated., Results.—: The rate of intraobserver concordance between GS results and WSI results was 93.7%. Mean time to diagnosis was 1.25 minutes for GSs and 1.76 minutes for WSIs (P < .001). Specificity was 91% for GSs and 90% for WSIs; sensitivity was 92% for GSs and 92% for WSIs., Conclusions.—: Time to diagnosis was longer with WSIs than with GSs, and scanning GSs and uploading the data to whole slide imaging systems takes time. However, review of WSIs appears to be a safe alternative to review of GSs. Use of WSIs allows reporting from a remote site during a public health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitates subspecialty histopathology services., Competing Interests: The authors have no relevant financial interest in the products or companies described in this article., (© 2024 College of American Pathologists.)

Autologous stem cell transplantation (autoHCT) is considered standard of care for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Although most patients eventually progress after autoHCT, a small proportion achieve a durable response. In this retrospective study we included 1576 patients, 244 (15%) of whom were long-term responders (LTR), defined as having a progression-free survival (PFS) of ≥8 years after transplant. Patients in the LTR group were younger than the non-LTR group (median age 58.4 vs. 59.5 years; p = 0.012), less likely to have high-risk cytogenetics (4% vs. 14%; p < 0.001), more often had <50% bone marrow plasma cells (67% vs. 58%; p = 0.018) and R-ISS stage I disease (43% vs. 34%). More patients in the LTR group received post-transplant maintenance (63% vs. 52%; p = 0.002). Patients in the LTR group had higher rates of complete response (CR) at day100 (41% vs. 27%; p < 0.001) and at best post-transplant response (70% vs. 37%; p < 0.001), compared to the non-LTR group. Patients in the LTR groups had a median PFS of 169.3 months and the median overall survival (OS) had not been reached. The leading cause of death in the LTR was disease progression. In conclusion, 15% of patients in the cohort were LTR after upfront autoHCT, with distinct characteristics and a median PFS of more than 14 years., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Here we report on the first prospective study evaluating the safety and long-term survival when an escalating dose of inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO) (0.6, 1.2, or 1.8 mg/m 2 on day 13) was added to one alkylator-containing conditioning regimen in patients with relapsed CD22 (+) lymphoid malignancies who were candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Twenty-six patients were enrolled. Six (23%) of these patients entered the phase 1 study: four were treated at an INO dose of 0.6 mg/m 2 and two at dose of 1.2 mg/m 2 . None of these patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities. The remaining 20 (77%) patients entered the phase 2 part of the study at the maximum dose of 1.8 mg/m 2 . One patient developed VOD; this patient had received nivolumab immediately before HSCT while simultaneously experiencing hyperacute graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). Treatment-related mortality (TRM) at 5 years was 12%. With a median follow-up of 48.7 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 84% and 80%, respectively. Compared with a historical cohort who received same conditioning for HSCT but without INO (n = 56), the INO group showed no significant differences in incidence of liver toxicity, engraftment time, TRM, or risk of acute GVHD. Patients with lymphoma who received INO had a trend for a better 5-year OS (93% versus 68%) and PFS (93% versus 58%) than those in the control group. In conclusion, our results showed that INO is safe with no increased risk of VOD when combined with one alkylator-containing regimen of HSCT., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Enfortumab vedotin (EV) is an antibody-drug conjugate directed against Nectin-4 that is used to treat urothelial carcinoma. Nectin-4 is inherently expressed in the skin and adnexal structures. Since therapeutic options for cutaneous adnexal carcinomas are limited, we sought to evaluate Nectin-4 expression in adnexal carcinomas and benign adnexal neoplasms to identify tumors that are potentially targetable with EV., Methods: Eight sebaceous carcinomas (seven periocular and one lymph node metastasis), eight digital papillary adenocarcinomas, seven squamoid eccrine ductal carcinomas, eight poromas, eight trichilemmomas, and seven sebaceous adenomas were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for anti-Nectin-4 antibody. H-scores for Nectin-4 expression were calculated., Results: Benign adnexal neoplasms had a significantly lower mean (±SD) Nectin-4 H-score (142.6 ± 39.1) than did the adnexal carcinomas (198 ± 90.8; p = 0.006). Nectin-4 was expressed in 91% (21/23) of adnexal carcinomas. Sebaceous carcinomas frequently exhibited high expression of Nectin-4 (88% [7/8]), with a mean (±SD) H-score (258.1 ± 58.4) significantly higher than those for digital papillary adenocarcinomas (197.5 ± 52.5; p = 0.035) and squamoid eccrine ductal carcinomas (131.4 ± 114.1; p = 0.031). Sebaceous carcinomas also had significantly higher H-scores than did sebaceous adenomas (186.4 ± 25.0; p = 0.013)., Conclusions: Increased Nectin-4 expression in a subset of cutaneous adnexal carcinomas, particularly sebaceous carcinomas, reveals that EV is a potential therapeutic option for these tumors., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The second revision of the International Staging System (R2-ISS) is a simple tool to risk-stratify newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. Here, we completed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the utility of R2-ISS in NDMM patients who underwent up-front autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT). A total of 1291 patients were included, with a median age of 62 years (range 29-83). The distribution of R2-ISS stages was: 123 (10%) stage I, 471 (36%) stage II, 566 (44%) stage III and 131 (10%) stage IV. With a median follow-up of 42.2 months (range 0.3-181.0), the median PFS was 73.0, 65.2, 44.0 and 24.8 months, (p < 0.001) and the median OS was 130.8, 128.5, 94.2 and 61.4 months (p < 0.001) for patients with R2-ISS stages I, II, III and IV respectively. On multivariable analysis (MVA) for PFS, using R2-ISS stage I as reference, R2-ISS stages III (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.55 [1.05-2.29]; p = 0.028) and IV (2.04 [1.24-3.36]; p = 0.005) were associated with significantly inferior PFS. In the MVA of OS, using R2-ISS stage I as reference, only R2-ISS stage IV was associated with significantly inferior OS (2.43 [1.18-5.01]; p = 0.017). Overall, we found that R2-ISS is a reliable prognostic tool for NDMM patients undergoing up-front auto-HCT., (© 2024 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Context: To provide high-quality, safe training during the COVID-19 pandemic, our anatomic pathology fellowship program implemented a hybrid virtual/in-person training model with supplemental digital material., Objective: To evaluate the impact of this model., Design: We examined Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education survey results and board pass rates for fellows before the pandemic (group 1); during the pandemic peak (group 2); and early and late after the pandemic peak (groups 3 and 4). Additionally, we distributed an online survey, including questions related to performance as attending physicians and fellowship experience, to recent graduates., Results: Information loss during handover, supervision and teaching by faculty, and having at least 4 free days a month exhibited the greatest score declines between group 1 and groups 2, 3, and 4 on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education surveys. No differences were seen in board passing rates between groups. The groups did not differ in responses regarding preparation for role as attending, confidence in role as attending, or overall impression of the fellowship program. The pandemic-affected groups responded more positively on the perceived utility of supplemental digital material, impact of digital pathology on quality of education, and impact of supplemental digital material on familiarity with digital pathology. The difference was particularly large between group 1 and combined groups 3 and 4., Conclusions: Despite the limitations noted, the hybrid training model was effective and successfully prepared fellows for their role as attending physicians. Similar studies can be informative for the implementation of similar programs or for the meaningful integration of digital pathology into training curricula., Competing Interests: Aung is supported by a Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) Grant and an Institutional Research Grant (IRG) from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center., (© 2024 College of American Pathologists.)

Background: Breast cancer (BC) with germline BRCA1/2 mutations and their association with triple-negative BC has been thoroughly investigated. However, some carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations have human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu)-positive BC, which has a different targeted therapy approach, and data are scarce for this patient population. The authors sought to characterize the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with HER2/neu-positive BC who had germline BRCA1/2 mutations., Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data from 1099 patients diagnosed with HER2/neu-positive BC who were screened for germline BRCA mutations between 1996 and 2022. Clinicopathologic features and survival rates were analyzed by BRCA mutation status. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the association between clinical variables and outcomes., Results: Of 1099 patients with HER2/neu-positive BC, 73 (6.6%) tested positive for BRCA1/2 mutations. Age, race, and tumor characteristics did not differ between BRCA noncarriers and carriers. At a median follow-up of 78.6 months, the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 85% in BRCA carriers and 87% in noncarriers (p = .79), and the 5-year overall survival rate was 94% in BRCA carriers and 94% in noncarriers (p = .78). In a multivariable model, BRCA was not associated with recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-1.90; p = .96) or overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-2.07; p = .69)., Conclusions: BRCA1/2 mutations occurred in 6.6% of patients with HER2/neu-positive BC and did not affect survival outcomes. Assessing the potential benefits of new treatment strategies, such as combining anti-HER2/neu therapies with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, may lead to enhanced outcomes for these patients., (© 2023 American Cancer Society.)

Background: Melanoma leptomeningeal disease (LMD) has a poor prognosis. However, the management of patients with advanced melanoma has evolved with time, including those with LMD. We reviewed a large cohort of melanoma LMD patients to assess factors associated with survival., Methods: Retrospective clinical data was collected on patients diagnosed with LMD at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2015 to 2020. Overall survival (OS) was determined from LMD diagnosis to date of death or last follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to estimate OS and to assess univariate group differences, respectively. Multivariable associations of survival with variables of interest were determined using Cox proportional hazards regression models., Results: A total of 172 patients were identified. The median age at LMD diagnosis was 53 (range 20-79) years, and all patients had radiographic evidence of LMD on magnetic resonance imaging of either brain or spine. In total 143 patients previously received systemic therapy (83%), with a median of 2 prior treatments (range 0-5). 81 patients (47%) had concurrent uncontrolled systemic disease and 80 patients (53%) had elevated serum LDH at the time of diagnosis. With a median follow-up of 4.0 months (range 0.1-65.3 months), median OS for all patients from LMD diagnosis was 4.9 months. Patients ( n  = 45) who received intrathecal therapy or systemic immunotherapy for LMD had a median OS of 8.0 months and 10.2 months, respectively. On multivariable analysis, decreased performance status, positive CSF cytology, elevated LDH, and whole brain radiation were associated with worse OS., Conclusions: Despite many advances in therapeutic options, the outcomes of melanoma patients with LMD remains poor. However, a subset of patients appears to derive benefit from LMD-directed treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest pertinent to this manuscript., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the European Association of Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who undergo high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (Auto-HCT) have an increased risk of developing therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia (t-MDS/AML). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all MM patients who underwent an Auto-HCT at our institution between 1 January and 31 December 2018 and later developed t-MDS/AML. Among the 2982 patients who underwent at least 1 Auto-HCT, 55 (2%) developed t-MDS/AML (MDS, n = 52; AML, n = 3). The median age at t-MDS/AML diagnosis was 66 years (range 43-83 years), and the median time from Auto-HCT to t-MDS/AML diagnosis was 58.5 months (range 6-206 months). At diagnosis, all 3 patients with tAML and 65% of those with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (tMDS) had high-risk disease, per 2022 European LeukemiaNet and R-IPSS, respectively, and 62% had TP53 gene mutations. Patients who developed tMDS/AML were older at MM diagnosis (median 61 versus 59 years; P = .06), more often were male (73% versus 58%; P = .029), received more than 2 years of lenalidomide maintenance (57% versus 39%; P = .014), and experienced complete remission more frequently after Auto-HCT compared to those who did not develop t-MDS/AML (56% versus 40%; P = .012). In a multivariable model, male gender, advanced age at MM diagnosis, experiencing complete remission after Auto-HCT, and lenalidomide maintenance were independent predictors of developing t-MDS/AML. Among the patients who developed t-MDS/AML, 14 (25%) underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem transplantation (Allo-HCT). After a median follow-up of 9.9 months from t-MDS/AML diagnosis, the median overall survival (OS) after t-MDS/AML diagnosis was 11.8 months for all patients, and 18.2 months versus 11.1 months for Allo-HCT recipients versus nonrecipients, respectively (P = .25). On univariate analysis, receiving an alkylator as induction for MM (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.9 [1.3-6.3]; P = .009), age > 60 years (3.1 [1.2-8.2]; P = .025), and higher-risk R-IPSS (2.7 [1.3-6.0]; P=0.011) predicted worse OS after t-MDS/AML diagnosis. None of these retained significance in the multivariable analysis. T-MDS/AML after Auto-HCT for MM is associated with aggressive disease characteristics, including high-risk cytogenetics and TP53 mutations. The outcomes of patients remain poor, even with Allo-HCT. A better understanding of disease biology and novel therapeutic approaches is warranted., (Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The prognostic impact of additional copies of chromosome 1q (1q + ) on outcomes of newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients undergoing autologous transplantation (autoSCT) is unclear. We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of NDMM patients with 1q21 gain/amplification (3 or ≥4 copies of 1q, respectively) that received autoSCT between 2008-2018. 213 patients were included (79% 1q gain; 21% 1q amplification). The most commonly used induction regimen was bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (41%). At day100 post-autoSCT and at best post-transplant response, 78% and 87% of patients achieved ≥VGPR, and 38% and 50% achieved MRD-negative ≥VGPR, respectively. Median PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 35.5 months and 81.4 months, respectively. On multivariable assessment for PFS, MRD negative ≥VGPR before autoSCT (HR 0.52, p = 0.013) was associated with superior PFS, whereas 1q amplification was associated with inferior PFS (2.03, p = 0.003). On multivariate analysis for OS, achieving MRD negative ≥VGPR at best post-transplant response was associated with superior survival (0.29, p < 0.001), whereas R-ISS III and concomitant del17p or t(4:14) were associated with inferior survival (6.95, p = 0.030, 2.33, p = 0.023 and 3.00, p = 0.047, respectively). In conclusion, patients with 1q+ NDMM, especially 1q amplification, have inferior survival outcomes compared to standard-risk disease after upfront autoSCT, though outcomes are better than other high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Outcomes of myelofibrosis (MF) with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) have improved over the past decade, related in part to advances in supportive treatments and conditioning regimens. Several factors are known to predict transplantation outcomes. However, most studies lack homogeneity in conditioning regimens used, limiting their ability to assess prognostic factors on transplantation outcomes. We aimed to identify the risk factors that predict transplantation outcomes in patients with MF who underwent matched or mismatched allo-SCT using a uniform myeloablative conditioning regimen consisting of busulfan and fludarabine with tacrolimus and methotrexate-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. This single-center study included patients with MF who underwent allo-SCT with a matched unrelated donor (MUD), matched related donor (MRD), or mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD) and received busulfan and fludarabine conditioning with methotrexate/tacrolimus-based GVHD prophylaxis. Sixty-five patients with MF met the study criteria and were included in our analysis. At a median follow-up of 35.6 months, the 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), nonrelapse mortality (NRM), and overall survival (OS) for all study patients were 27%, 20%, and 65%, respectively. In a multivariable analysis for CIR, prior use of JAK inhibitors was significantly associated with a decreased risk of relapse (hazard ratio [HR], .33; 95% confidence interval [CI], .11 to .99; P = .048). For NRM, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (≥3 versus <3; HR, 10.09; 95% CI, 2.09 to 48.76; P = .004) and donor type (MUD versus MRD: HR, 5.38; 95% CI, 1.14 to 25.30; P = .033; MMUD versus MRD: HR, 10.73; 95% CI, 1.05 to 109.4; P = .045) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. Likewise for OS, HCT-CI (≥3 versus <3; HR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.22 to 8.99; P = .019) and donor type (MMUD versus MRD: HR, 5.20; 95% CI, 1.35 to 19.98; P = .016) were significantly associated with inferior survival. Longer time from diagnosis to allo-SCT seemed to confer worse survival, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (>12 months versus ≤12 months: NRM: HR, 7.20; 95% CI, .96 to 53.94; P = .055; OS: HR, 2.60; 95% CI, .95 to 7.14; P = .06). In a homogenous cohort of MF patients uniformly treated with busulfan/fludarabine myeloablative conditioning and methotrexate-based GVHD prophylaxis, we show that donor choice and HCT-CI are the 2 strongest predictors for improved survival after allo-SCT., (Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities have inferior survival outcomes and are underrepresented in clinical trials. There is scarce data on MM patients with more than one high-risk cytogenetic aberration (ie, ultra- high-risk MM). This study was conducted to evaluate outcomes of newly diagnosed MM patients with ultra-high-risk MM who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHCT). We conducted a retrospective single-center chart review analysis of adult patients with ultra-high-risk MM who underwent autoHCT between 2008 and 2018 at MD Anderson Cancer Center. High-risk cytogenetics were defined as del(17p), t(4;14), t(14;16), or 1q21 gain or amplification (1q+) by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Seventy-nine patients with two or more high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities were included in our analysis. The median age of 61 years (range, 33.5 to 76.5 years), and 57% were female. Sixty-seven patients had two high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities, and 12 patients had three high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities. The most common combinations of high-risk abnormalities were [1q+, t(4:14)] (n = 25; 32%) and [1q+, del17p] (n = 21; 27%). The majority of patients received either bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (48%) or carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (16%) as induction therapy. Prior to autoHCT, 52 patients (66%) achieved a very good partial response or better (≥VGPR), whereas 23 patients (29%) achieved minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative ≥VGPR. Fifty-six patients (71%) received post-transplantation maintenance therapy. Thirty-six patients (46%) achieved MRD-negative ≥VGPR at day +100 after autoHCT, and 40 patients (51%) did so at best post-transplantation response. With a median follow-up in surviving patients of 38.3 months (range, 11.9 to 104.8 months), the median PFS and OS in the entire cohort were 22.9 months and 71.5 months, respectively. For the subset of patients with three HR abnormalities, the median PFS was 15.6 months and median OS was 28.0 months. In multivariate analysis, achieving MRD-negative ≥VGPR prior to autoHCT was associated with improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR], .42; P = .045), whereas male sex (HR, .15; P = .009) and achieving MRD-negative ≥VGPR post-autoHCT (HR, .27; P = .026) were associated with improved OS. In conclusion, patients with ultra-high-risk MM have a median PFS of <24 months with the current standard of care that includes consolidation with autoHCT. These patients may benefit from earlier use of newer treatment modalities, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The optimal duration of lenalidomide (Len) maintenance for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) after autologous stem cell transplantation (autoHCT) is unknown. We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of adult MM patients that received upfront autoHCT between 2005 and 2021, followed by single-agent Len maintenance. A total of 1167 patients were included with a median age of 61.4 (range 25.4-82.3) years, and high-risk chromosomal abnormalities in 19%. Median duration of maintenance was 22.3 (range 0.03-139.6) months. After a median follow-up of 47.9 (range 2.9-171.7) months, median PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 56.6 (95% CI 48.2-61.4) months and 111.3 (95% CI 101.7-121.5) months, respectively. In MVA, high-risk cytogenetics was associated with a worse PFS (HR 1.91) and OS (HR 1.73) (p < .001 for both). Use of KRD induction and achievement of MRD-negative ≥ VGPR before autoHCT were associated with an improved PFS (HR 0.53 and HR 0.57, respectively; p < .001 for both). Longer maintenance duration, even with a 5-year cutoff, was associated with superior PFS and OS (HR 0.17 and 0.12, respectively; p < .001 for both). A total of 106 patients (9%) developed a second primary malignancy (SPM), mostly solid tumors (39%) and myeloid malignancies (30%). Longer maintenance duration was associated with a higher risk of SPM, reaching statistical significance after >2 years (odds ratio 2.25; p < .001). In conclusion, outcomes with Len maintenance were comparable to those reported in large clinical trials. Longer duration of maintenance, even beyond 5 years, was associated with improved survival., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Dual expression of MYC and BCL2 proteins (double-expressor lymphoma [DEL]) as well as cell of origin (COO) are important prognostic factors in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after conventional chemotherapy. We studied the prognostic impact of DEL and COO in patients with relapsed DLBCL treated with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Three-hundred and three patients with stored tissue samples were identified. Classification was successful in 267 patients: 161 (60%) were DEL/non-double hit (DHL), 98 (37%) were non-DEL/non-DHL, and 8 (3%) were DEL/DHL. Compared to non-DEL/non-DHL, DEL/DHL had worse overall survival while DEL/non-DHL did not significantly differ in overall survival. On multivariable analysis, DEL/DHL, age >60 years, and >2 prior therapies, but not COO, were important prognostic factors for overall survival. When we explored the interaction of COO and BCL2 expression, patients with germinal center B-cell (GCB)/BCL2 (+) had inferior progression-free survival (PFS) compared to GCB/BCL2 (-) patients (HR, 4.97; P = 0.027). We conclude that the DEL/non-DHL and non-DEL/non-DHL subtypes of DLBCL have similar survival after ASCT. The negative impact of GCB/BCL2 (+) on PFS warrants future trials targeting BCL2 after ASCT. The inferior outcomes in DEL/DHL need to be verified in a larger number of patients., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: In lung cancer, overexpression of nuclear export proteins can result in inactivation of critical tumor suppressor proteins and cell-cycle regulators. Selective suppression of nuclear export proteins has immunomodulatory activities. Here, clinical safety and early efficacy data are presented on the combination of pembrolizumab and an oral selective nuclear export inhibitor, selinexor, for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC)., Methods: The primary objective of this prospective investigator-initiated study was to determine the safety and tolerability of selinexor in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with mNSCLC. Secondary objectives included determination of objective tumor response rate, disease control rate, and progression-free survival duration., Results: A total of 17 patients were included in the final analysis. Fifteen (88%) received more than two lines of prior systemic therapy and 10 (59%) had prior exposure to anti-PD-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy. The median age was 67.5 years. Ten patients had grade ≥3 adverse events related to selinexor treatment. Responses to treatment occurred in patients who did and did not undergo previous anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and in patients with activating driver mutations. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 11.4 months (95% CI, 3.4-19.8 months) and 3.0 months (95% CI, 1.7-5.7 months), respectively. The overall response rate was 18% and the 6-month disease control rate was 24%., Conclusions: Selinexor in combination with pembrolizumab demonstrated promising antitumor activity in patients with mNSCLC, including those who had previously received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. The therapy-related toxic effects were consistent with the prior safety data for both drugs, and no overlapping toxic effects were observed., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02419495., Plain Language Summary: New strategies to prevent or reverse resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors are under investigation. Selective inhibitors of nuclear export proteins, such as selinexor, can induce restoration of tumor-suppressing pathways and induce potent immunomodulatory activities. This article contains the clinical safety and early efficacy data on the combination of pembrolizumab and selinexor in treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer., (© 2023 American Cancer Society.)

Multiple myeloma (MM) primarily affects older patients. There are scarce data on the outcomes of young adults undergoing autologous transplantation (auto-HCT). In this single-centre analysis, we included 117 younger patients, with a median age of 37 years (range 22-40) at transplant. Seventeen (15%) patients had high-risk cytogenetics. Before transplant, 10% of patients achieved ≥CR and 44% achieved ≥VGPR. At best post-transplant response, 56% and 77% of patients achieved ≥CR and ≥VGPR respectively. With a median follow-up for survivors of 72.6 months (range 0.9-238.0), median PFS and OS were 43.1 months (95% CI 31.2-65.0) and 146.6 months (95% CI 100.0-208.1) respectively. Patients who underwent auto-HCT after 2010 had better median PFS (84.9 months vs. 28.2 months, p < 0.001) and OS (NR vs. 91.8 months, p < 0.001) compared with those transplanted earlier. In multi-variate analysis, achieving ≥CR as best post-transplant response was associated with improved PFS (HR [95% CI] 0.55 [0.32-0.95], p = 0.032), while achieving ≥VGPR was predictive of superior OS (0.32 [0.16-0.62], p < 0.001). Three patients (3%) developed a second primary malignancy. Younger MM patients had durable survival after auto-HCT, which further improved after the availability of novel anti-myeloma drugs in recent years. Depth of response following transplant remains a key predictor of survival., (© 2023 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Selinexor (KPT-330) is a potent inhibitor of exportin 1 (XPO1), in turn inhibiting tumor growth. Selinexor enhances the antitumor efficacy of eribulin in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in vitro and in vivo. Given the unmet medical need in TNBC and sarcoma, the authors explored the safety and efficacy of this combination., Methods: The authors conducted a phase 1b trial of combined selinexor and eribulin using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design in patients who had advanced solid tumors and in those who had TNBC in a dose-expansion cohort., Results: Patients with TNBC (N = 19), sarcoma (N = 9), and other cancers (N = 3) were enrolled in the dose-escalation cohort (N = 10) and in the dose-expansion cohort (N = 21). The median number lines of prior therapy received was four (range, from one to seven prior lines). The most common treatment-related adverse events for selinexor were nausea (77%), leukopenia (77%), anemia (68%), neutropenia (68%), and fatigue (48%). One dose-limiting toxicity occurred at the first dose level with prolonged grade 3 neutropenia. The recommended phase 2 dose was 80 mg of selinexor orally once per week and 1 mg/m 2 eribulin on days 1 and 8 intravenously every 3 weeks. The objective response rate (ORR) was 10% in three patients. In the dose-escalation cohort, the ORR was 10%, whereas six patients with had stable disease. In the TNBC dose-expansion cohort (n = 18), ORR was 11%, and there were two confirmed partial responses with durations of 10.8 and 19.1 months (ongoing)., Conclusions: Selinexor and eribulin had an acceptable toxicity profile and modest overall efficacy with durable responses in select patients., Plain Language Summary: Effective therapies for advanced, triple-negative breast cancer and sarcoma represent an unmet need. Exportin 1 is associated with the transport of cancer-related proteins. Preclinical studies have demonstrated tumor growth inhibition and enhanced tumor sensitivity in patients who receive selinexor combined with eribulin. In this phase 1b study, the authors evaluated the safety profile and clinical activity of the combination of selinexor, a potent oral inhibitor of exportin 1, and eribulin in patients with advanced cancers enriched for triple-negative breast cancer or sarcoma. The combination was well tolerated; most adverse events were mild or moderate, reversible, and managed with dose modifications or growth factor support. The combination of selinexor and eribulin produced an antitumor response, particularly in some patients with triple-negative breast cancer. This work lays the foundation for prospective investigations of the role of selinexor and eribulin in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer., (© 2023 American Cancer Society.)

Background: Treatment options for patients with melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) have changed significantly in the last decade. Few studies have evaluated changes in outcomes and factors associated with survival in MBM patients over time. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in clinical features and overall survival (OS) for MBM patients., Methods: Patients diagnosed with MBMs from 1/1/2009 to 12/31/2013 (Prior Era; PE) and 1/1/2014 to 12/31/2018 (Current Era; CE) at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center were included in this retrospective analysis. The primary outcome measure was OS. Log-rank test assessed differences between groups; multivariable analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazards models and recursive partitioning analysis (RPA)., Results: A total of 791 MBM patients (PE, n = 332; CE, n = 459) were included in analysis. Median OS from MBM diagnosis was 10.3 months (95% CI, 8.9-12.4) and improved in the CE vs PE (14.4 vs 10.3 months, P < .001). Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was the only factor associated with worse OS in both PE and CE patients. Factors associated with survival in CE MBM patients included patient age, primary tumor Breslow thickness, prior immunotherapy, leptomeningeal disease, symptomatic MBMs, and whole brain radiation therapy. Several factors associated with OS in the PE were not significant in the CE. RPA demonstrated that elevated serum LDH and prior immunotherapy treatment are the most important determinants of survival in CE MBM patients., Conclusions: OS and factors associated with OS have changed for MBM patients. This information can inform contemporary patient management and clinical investigations., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology.)

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based cancer therapies cause a variety of cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs) including immunobullous skin eruptions like bullous pemphigoid (BP). However, little is known about the underlying immunopathogenic drivers of these reactions, and understanding the unique gene expression profile and immune composition of BP-irAE remains a critical knowledge gap in the field of oncodermatology/oncodermatopathology., Methods: BP-irAE (n = 8) and de novo BP control (n = 8) biopsy samples were subjected to gene expression profiling using the NanoString® Technologies nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) studies using markers for T-cells (CD3 and CD8), T helper 1 (T H 1) cells (Tbet), T H 2 cells (Gata3), T H 17 cells (RORγT), and regulatory T-cells (Tregs; FoxP3) were further evaluated using InForm® image analysis., Results: Compared with de novo BP controls, BP-irAE samples exhibited upregulation of 30 mRNA transcripts (p < 0.025), including toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and genes associated with complement activation, and downregulation of 89 mRNA transcripts (p < 0.025), including genes associated with T H 2, T H 17, and B-cell immune response. BP-irAE demonstrated a greater density of Tbet + (T H 1) cells in the dermis (p = 0.004) and fewer Tregs in the blister floor (p = 0.028) when compared with that of de novo control BP samples., Conclusions: BP-irAE exhibited activation of the TLR4/complement-driven classical innate immune response pathway, with dermal T H 1 immune cell polarization and decreased Tregs in the blister floor. TLR/complement signaling may underlie the immunopathogenesis of BP-irAE., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Context.—: Distinction between Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and pulmonary small cell carcinoma (PSmCC) can be challenging, even with the aid of immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of CK20 and TTF1, as these tumors occasionally lack classic immunophenotypes (CK20+/TTF1- in MCC and CK20-/TTF1+ in PSmCC)., Objective.—: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of SOX11 and PAX5 IHC for distinguishing MCCs from PSmCCs and compare it with that of CK20 and TTF1 IHC., Design.—: SOX11, PAX5, CK20, and TTF1 expression (pattern, intensity, and proportion of tumor cells expressing protein) was assessed in 31 primary and 16 metastatic MCCs and 20 primary and 9 metastatic PSmCCs., Results.—: SOX11 expression was present in all MCCs and was predominantly strong and diffuse. Only 19% of primary and 38% of metastatic MCCs exhibited diffuse PAX5 expression; none exhibited strong immunoreactivity. Strong and diffuse SOX11 expression was seen in less than 25% of primary and metastatic PSmCCs. PAX5 expression was rare in PSmCCs and was mostly weak and focal/patchy. SOX11 expression in at least 26% of tumor cells, with at least moderate intensity, favored the diagnosis of MCC over PSmCC (P < .001). Furthermore, SOX11 expression was more likely than CK20 expression to be strong or diffuse in sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases of MCC, indicating that SOX11 is superior to CK20 for detecting tumor deposits in SLNs in MCC., Conclusions.—: Our findings indicate that SOX11 not only is a powerful marker for distinguishing MCCs from PSmCCs, especially when used in conjunction with CK20 and TTF1, but also has utility for screening SLNs in MCC., (© 2023 College of American Pathologists.)

Most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHCT) eventually relapse, perhaps due to the presence of clonal plasma cells (CPC) in the autograft. We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the impact of CPC in the autograft on the outcomes of high-risk chromosomal abnormalities (HRMM) patients undergoing autoHCT between 2008 and 2018. Patients were divided into CPC+ or CPC- in the autograft by next-generation flow cytometry (NGF). There were 75 CPC + autografts (18%) and 341 CPC- (82%). The CPC + group was less likely to achieve MRD-negative complete remission post-transplant (11% vs. 42%; p < 0.001). Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were (12.8 vs. 32.1 months) and (36.4 vs. 81.2 months) in the CPC + and CPC- groups, respectively (both p < 0.001). Also in the subset of patients with MRD-negative ≥VGPR prior to autoHCT, those with CPC + autografts had inferior PFS (HR 4.21, p = 0.006) and OS (HR 7.04, p = 0.002) compared to CPC-. In multivariable analysis, the degree of CPC positivity in the autograft was independently predictive of worse PFS (HR 1.50, p = 0.001) and OS (HR 1.37, p = 0.001). In conclusion, both the presence and degree of CPC in the autograft were highly predictive of inferior PFS and OS., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated diabetes mellitus (ICI-DM) is a rare adverse event. In this study, we characterize clinical outcomes of patients with ICI-DM and evaluate survival impact of this complication on melanoma patients. Research design & methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 76 patients diagnosed with ICI-DM from April 2014 to December 2020. Results: 68% of patients presented in diabetic ketoacidosis, 16% had readmissions for hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia occurred in 70% of patients after diagnosis. Development of ICI-DM did not impact overall survival or progression-free survival in melanoma patients. Conclusion: Development of ICI-DM is associated with long-term insulin dependence and pancreatic atrophy; the use of diabetes technology in this patient population can help improve glycemic control.

Translocation between chromosomes 4 and 14, t(4;14), has been reported in 15% of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and is considered a high-risk cytogenetic abnormality associated with inferior outcomes. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is standard of care for patients with high-risk MM, yet there are scarce data on post-transplantation outcomes of patients with t(4;14) MM. The aim of the present study was to evaluate outcomes of MM patients with t(4;14) who underwent auto-HCT and received contemporary anti-myeloma agents for induction and post-transplantation maintenance. We conducted a retrospective analysis of MM patients with t(4;14), detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), who underwent auto-HCT between 2008 and 2018 at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints were hematologic response and minimal residual disease (MRD) status after auto-HCT. MRD status in the bone marrow biopsy was evaluated using 8-color next-generation flow cytometry with a sensitivity of 1/10 -5 cells. Seventy-nine patients were included (52% male), with a median age of 60 years (range, 32 to 78 years). Forty-four patients (56%) had an additional high-risk cytogenetic abnormality. Fifty patients (63%) achieved at least a very good partial response (≥VGPR) prior to auto-HCT and 20 (25%) had MRD-negative ≥VGPR. At the best post-transplantation evaluation, 90% had ≥VGPR and 63% had MRD-negative ≥VGPR. The median follow-up for survivors was 35.7 months (range, 7.7 to 111.6 months). For the entire cohort, median PFS and OS were 22.9 months and 60.4 months, respectively. Patients with MRD-negative ≥VGPR prior to transplantation had improved PFS and OS on both univariate analysis (UVA) and multivariate analysis (MVA) (hazard ratio [HR], .35 [95% confidence interval (CI), .16 to .76; P = .008] and .12 [95% CI, .03 to .44; P = .002], respectively). The presence of additional high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities was not associated with inferior PFS (P = .57) or OS (P = .70). Post-transplantation lenalidomide-based combinations were associated with improved OS in both UVA and MVA (HR, .14; 95% CI, .04 to .45; P = .001), while their impact on PFS was not statistically significant (P = .37). Our results consolidate t(4;14) as a high-risk abnormality associated with poor outcomes despite novel agent induction, auto-HCT, and post-transplantation maintenance. Despite some inherent study design limitations, including a relatively small cohort and heterogeneity in treatment, we observed that deeper pretransplantation response and post-transplantation maintenance with lenalidomide-based combination were associated with improved outcomes. Novel immune and cellular therapies are needed to improve the outcomes in patients with t(4;14)., (Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Despite remarkable progress in survival with the availability of novel agents, an overwhelming majority of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have disease that relapses. Allogeneic (allo-) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative option for a subgroup of patients with high-risk MM. This study assessed the long-term outcome of MM patients who underwent allo-HCT while in first remission as consolidation treatment. Thirty-three patients with newly diagnosed MM who underwent allo-HCT as part of consolidation therapy between 1994 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Of these patients, 70% underwent autologous HCT before allo-HCT. All patients were chemosensitive and achieved at least partial response before proceeding to allo-HCT. Most received nonmyeloablative/reduced-intensity conditioning (88%) and a matched sibling donor graft (85%). Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD occurred in 30% and 61% of patients, respectively. The median duration of follow-up was 64.1 months (range, 1.4 to 199.2 months) for all patients and 164.4 months (range, 56.0 to 199.2 months) for survivors. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 36 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.6 to 73.0 months). The median time from treatment to progression was 73.0 months (95% CI, 30.6 months to not reached). The median overall survival (OS) was 131.9 months (95% CI, 38.4 months to not reached). Of all patients, 39% were alive for more than 10 years, with 46% (n = 6) without progression or relapse. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 18% at 1 year, 39% at 5 years, and 46% at 10 years post-allo-HCT. The cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality was 3% at 100 days, 18% at 1 year, 21% at 3 years, and 24% at 5 year post-allo-HCT. On multivariable analysis, high-risk cytogenetics were associated with a shorter PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.7; 95% CI, 1.01 to 7.21; P = .047) and OS (HR, 4.91; 95% CI, 1.48 to 16.27; P = .009). Achieving complete remission after allo-HCT also was associated with longer PFS (HR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.64; P = .004) and OS (HR, .23; 95% CI, .07 to .72; P = .012). Allo-HCT may confer a survival advantage in a selected population of MM patients when performed early in the disease course; additional data on identifying the patients who will benefit the most are needed., (Copyright © 2022 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has emerged recently as a standard of care treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and several subtypes of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, its use remains limited to highly specialized centers, given the complexity of its administration and its associated toxicities. We previously reported our experience in using a novel Sleeping Beauty (SB) CD19-specific CAR T-cell therapy in the peri-transplant setting, where it exhibited an excellent safety profile with encouraging survival outcomes. We have since modified the SB CD19 CAR construct to improve its efficacy and shorten its manufacturing time. We report here the phase 1 clinical trial safety results. Fourteen heavily treated patients with relapsed/refractory ALL and NHL were infused. Overall, no serious adverse events were directly attributed to the study treatment. Three patients developed grades 1-2 cytokine release syndrome and none of the study patients experienced neurotoxicity. All dose levels were well tolerated and no dose-limiting toxicities were reported. For efficacy, 3 of 8 (38%) patients with ALL achieved CR/CRi (complete remission with incomplete count recovery) and 1 (13%) patient had sustained molecular disease positivity. Of the 4 patients with DLBCL, 2 (50%) achieved CR. The SB-based CAR constructs allow manufacturing of targeted CAR T-cell therapies that are safe, cost-effective and with encouraging antitumor activity., Competing Interests: The technology was advanced through research conducted at MD Anderson by LC. In January 2015, the technology was licensed by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for commercial application to Alaunos Therapeutics formerly Ziopharm Oncology, Inc., and Precigen formerly Intrexon Corporation, in exchange for equity interests in each of these companies. LC and some co-authors received equity because of the licensing of this technology. From 2015 to 2021 LC was Chief Executive Officer at ZIOPHARM. The information being reported in this publication is research in which The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has an institutional financial conflict of interest. Because The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is committed to the protection of human subjects and the effective management of its financial conflicts of interest in relation to its research activities, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has implemented an Institutional Conflict of Interest Management and Monitoring Plan to manage and monitor the conflict of interest with respect to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s conduct of this research. EG and LC were formerly employed by Alaunos Therapeutics and have equity ownership in the company. KR and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have an institutional financial conflict of interest with Takeda Pharmaceutical and Affimed GmbH. KR participates on the Scientific Advisory Board for GemoAb, AvengeBio, Virogin Biotech, GSK, Bayer, Navan Technologies, and Caribou Biosciences. ES participates on Scientific Advisory Boards for Adaptimmune, Axio, Navan, Fibroblasts and Fibrobiologics, and the NY Blood Center; has licensing or patents with Takeda and Affimed; and honorarium from Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. PK has served on advisory boards for Kite and Pfizer; received research support from Amgen and Alaunos; and has been a consultant for Jazz. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be constructed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Singh, Srour, Milton, McCarty, Dai, Gaballa, Ammari, Olivares, Huls, De Groot, Marin, Petropoulos, Olson, Anderlini, Im, Khouri, Hosing, Rezvani, Champlin, Shpall, Cooper and Kebriaei.)

Maintenance therapy with single-agent lenalidomide (Len) after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHCT) for multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS). However, MM patients with high-risk chromosomal abnormalities (HRMMs) may need a more intense regimen. We hypothesized that adding another antimyeloma drug to Len maintenance would lead to improved outcomes. We conducted this retrospective single-center chart review analysis of adult HRMM patients who underwent autoHCT between 2008 and 2018, followed by Len-based maintenance therapy. High-risk cytogenetics were defined as del(17p), t(4;14), t(14;16), 1q21 gain or amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization. We divided patients into those who received either single-agent Len maintenance (Len-only) or Len-based combinations (Len-combo). We compared nonrelapse mortality, day 100 and best post-transplantation responses, minimal residual disease status, PFS, and overall survival (OS) between the 2 groups. We also performed sensitivity analyses using inverse probability weights to correct for potential bias owing to nonrandomization of the 2 groups. A total of 231 patients with HRMM were included in our analysis, with a median age of 62.4 years (range, 33.5 to 79.9 years), and 55% were male. There were 153 patients in the Len-only group and 78 in the Len-combo group. Len-combo regimens were either doublets (Len with dexamethasone [dex] [n = 10], elotuzumab [n = 28], or ixazomib [n = 14]) or triplets (Len with bortezomib/dex [n = 10], ixazomib/dex [n = 10], or carfilzomib/dex [n = 6]). More patients in the Len-combo group had ≥2 high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities compared with the Len-only group (32% versus 12%: P < .001). The median duration of follow-up was 40.7 months in the Len-only group and 37.0 months in the Len-combo group. For all patients, the median PFS was 25.5 months, and the median OS was 82.6 months. There was no significant between-group difference in PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], .71-1.44; P = .94) or OS (HR, .84; 95% CI, .49 to 1.43; P = .52). However, for patients with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities other than 1q+, there was a trend toward better PFS in the Len-combo group (HR, .59; 95% CI, .32 to 1.09; P = .09), but no difference in OS (HR, .79; 95% CI, .37 to 1.65; P = .53). In this single-center retrospective analysis, the use of Len-based combinations for post-transplantation maintenance was not associated with improved outcomes in HRMM patients; however, there was a trend toward improved PFS in patients with high-risk abnormalities other than 1q+., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There are no conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © 2022 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Relatlimab and nivolumab combination immunotherapy improves progression-free survival over nivolumab monotherapy in patients with unresectable advanced melanoma 1 . We investigated this regimen in patients with resectable clinical stage III or oligometastatic stage IV melanoma (NCT02519322). Patients received two neoadjuvant doses (nivolumab 480 mg and relatlimab 160 mg intravenously every 4 weeks) followed by surgery, and then ten doses of adjuvant combination therapy. The primary end point was pathologic complete response (pCR) rate 2 . The combination resulted in 57% pCR rate and 70% overall pathologic response rate among 30 patients treated. The radiographic response rate using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 was 57%. No grade 3-4 immune-related adverse events were observed in the neoadjuvant setting. The 1- and 2-year recurrence-free survival rate was 100% and 92% for patients with any pathologic response, compared to 88% and 55% for patients who did not have a pathologic response (P = 0.005). Increased immune cell infiltration at baseline, and decrease in M2 macrophages during treatment, were associated with pathologic response. Our results indicate that neoadjuvant relatlimab and nivolumab induces a high pCR rate. Safety during neoadjuvant therapy is favourable compared to other combination immunotherapy regimens. These data, in combination with the results of the RELATIVITY-047 trial 1 , provide further confirmation of the efficacy and safety of this new immunotherapy regimen., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: The immunohistochemical (IHC) marker PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma (PRAME) has shown promise in the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions. A few studies have investigated PRAME IHC expression in acral melanomas, but PRAME expression in subungual melanomas is largely unknown. We evaluated the utility of PRAME IHC expression in distinguishing subungual melanomas (SUM) and non-subungual acral melanomas (AM) from acral nevi (AN)., Methods: Twenty-two SUM, 20 AM, and 14 AN were identified. IHC studies were performed using an anti-PRAME antibody. The percentage of lesional cells with PRAME expression was recorded and categorized as follows: 0%, 0; 1%-25%, 1+; 26%-50%, 2+; 51%-75%, 3+; and >75%, 4+. Patient demographics and other relevant clinicopathologic parameters were recorded., Results: Diffuse (4+) PRAME IHC expression was identified in 55% (12/22) SUM and 70% (14/20) AM, respectively. Any PRAME expression (1+ to 4+) was identified in 73% (16/22) SUMs and 95% (19/20) AM, respectively. One of 14 (7%) AN exhibited PRAME expression; interestingly, the pattern of expression was diffuse., Conclusions: In our study, PRAME IHC expression was useful in identifying AM, including SUM. However, there are exceptions of PRAME-negative melanomas and PRAME-positive nevi., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Staging systems for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) produce inconsistent risk stratification., Objective: The aim of this study was to identify further prognostic parameters for better stratification., Methods: We retrospectively analysed the prognostic significance of clinicopathologic parameters of 230 patients who underwent primary excision of invasive cSCC of the head and neck (n = 115) and non-head and non-neck (n = 115) locations. In addition to known high-risk features, we analysed tumour nest shape, invasion pattern, lymphoid response pattern and tumour budding., Results: On multivariable analysis, lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and high tumour budding predicted worse disease-specific survival, and ulceration, LVI and high tumour budding predicted worse overall survival. Only ulceration was independently associated with risk of nodal metastasis., Conclusion: High tumour budding, LVI and ulceration are independently associated with poor outcome in cSCC and may be used to refine cSCC prognostic stratification, which is crucial to optimize clinical decision and to identify patients who are more likely to benefit from more aggressive interventions or clinical trials., (© 2022 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

We aimed to study the risks of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and survival outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( n  = 17), Richter's syndrome ( n  = 14), or lymphoma ( n  = 18) after small molecule inhibitors (SMIs). Patients had a median of 4 prior therapies, including ibrutinib ( n  = 46; 94%), venetoclax ( n  = 19; 39%), and idelalisib ( n  = 6; 12%). Twenty-one (43%) had >1 SMI. P53 mutation was detected in 58% of patients. The 3-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 68% and 59%, respectively. The rates of grade II-IV and III-IV acute GVHD were 33% and 7%. The 1-year rates of chronic GVHD, NRM and relapse were 19%, 10% and 21%, respectively. Results were comparable to a historical control of patients who received alloSCT without a prior exposure to SMI. We conclude that a prior use of SMI does not impair the outcomes after alloSCT.

Background: Carboplatin and paclitaxel (CT) is one of the standard chemotherapy regimens used in various tumor types. Preclinical models have suggested that selinexor, a first-in-class oral potent selective inhibitor of nuclear export Exportin-1, and CT exerts antitumor activity in multiple malignancies., Methods: This was a single-center, multi-arm phase Ib study utilizing a "basket type" expansion. CT and selinexor was employed as one of the 13 parallel arms. Advanced relapsed/refractory solid tumors following standard therapy or where the addition of selinexor to standard regimens deemed appropriate, were eligible., Results: Of 13 patients treated, 12 patients were evaluable for response. The most common cancers were breast (n = 4), esophageal (n = 2), ovarian (n = 2) and non-small cell lung cancers (n = 2). All 13 patients had at least one treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and the most common were neutropenia (85%), leukopenia (85%), thrombocytopenia (85%), anemia (69%), nausea (54%), vomiting (46%), and fatigue (46%). One patient at 60 mg QW experienced DLT with grade 3 nausea and vomiting lasting 3 days. Unconfirmed partial response (uPR) was observed in 3 patients; one patient each with esophageal, breast, and ovarian cancer. One patient with esophageal adenocarcinoma had confirmed PR, however, was discontinued from the study due to clinical progression. Five patients achieved stable disease (SD). Disease control rate was 8%. Majority of patients (77%), including two patients who had uPR, had prior exposure to carboplatin and/or paclitaxel. Time-to-treatment failure (TTF) ranged from 1 to 153 weeks., Conclusion: The RP2D of selinexor was 60 mg QW in combination with CT. The combination conferred viable clinical activity with durable objective responses which should further be explored in tumor types for which CT is used as standard of care. Trial information., Clinicaltrials: gov Identifier: NCT02419495. Sponsor(s): Karyopharm Therapeutics. (Trial registration: NCT02419495. Registered 14 April 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02419495 )., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Patients with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at high-risk for relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We conducted a single-center phase 2 study evaluating the feasibility of 4 cycles of blinatumomab administered every 3 months during the first year after HCT in an effort to mitigate relapse in high-risk ALL patients. Twenty-one of 23 enrolled patients received at least 1 cycle of blinatumomab and were included in the analysis. The median time from HCT to the first cycle of blinatumomab was 78 days (range, 44 to 105). Twelve patients (57%) completed all 4 treatment cycles. Neutropenia was the only grade 4 adverse event (19%). Rates of cytokine release (5% G1) and neurotoxicity (5% G2) were minimal. The cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grades 2 to 4 and 3 to 4 were 33% and 5%, respectively; 2 cases of mild (10%) and 1 case of moderate (5%) chronic GVHD were noted. With a median follow-up of 14.3 months, the 1-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) rates were 85%, 71%, and 0%, respectively. In a matched analysis with a contemporary cohort of 57 patients, we found no significant difference between groups regarding blinatumomab's efficacy. Correlative studies of baseline and posttreatment samples identified patients with specific T-cell profiles as "responders" or "nonresponders" to therapy. Responders had higher proportions of effector memory CD8 T-cell subsets. Nonresponders were T-cell deficient and expressed more inhibitory checkpoint molecules, including T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3). We found that blinatumomab postallogeneic HCT is feasible, and its benefit is dependent on the immune milieu at time of treatment. This paper is posted on ClinicalTrials.gov, study ID: NCT02807883., (© 2022 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: Aung Naing reports the following: research funding from NCI, EMD Serono, MedImmune, Healios Inc. Nutrition, Atterocor, Amplimmune, ARMO BioSciences, Eli Lilly, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Incyte, Novartis, Regeneron, Merck, BMS, Pfizer, CytomX Therapeutics, Neon Therapeutics, Calithera Biosciences, TopAlliance Biosciences, Kymab, PsiOxus, Arcus Biosciences, NeoimmuneTech, ImmuneOncia, Surface Oncology; on advisory boards of CytomX Therapeutics, Novartis, Genome & Company, OncoSec KEYNOTE-695, and STCube; travel and accommodation expense from ARMO BioSciences. Jatin Shah is an employee of and stockholder of Karyopharm Therapuetics. The remaining authors have declared that they have no conflicts of interest.