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Multiple myeloma accounts for 10-15% of all hematologic malignancies, and 20% of deaths related to cancers of the blood and bone marrow. Diagnosis is defined by the presence of a serum monoclonal spike (M-spike) of more than 3 g/dL or more than 10% clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow and at least one myeloma-defining event, such as hypercalcemia, anemia, bone lesions, or renal impairment. The kidney is a major target organ, and renal impairment is frequently the first manifestation of the disease. Renal damage occurs in up to 40% of patients and 10-20% will require dialysis. Monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains are the major causes of renal complications in multiple myeloma. Glomerular disease, with the deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulins or their components, includes monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease, AL or AH amyloidosis, type I cryoglobulinemia, proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits, immunotactoid glomerulopathy, and fibrillary glomerulonephritis. In addition, tubulointerstitial diseases with the deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulins or their components, are constituted by light chain cast nephropathy, light chain proximal tubulopathy, and crystal-storing histiocytosis. We report the case of a 66-year-old woman who presented with albumin-predominant moderate proteinuria and renal failure. Serum and urine immunofixation electrophoresis showed monoclonal κ light chain in both. Renal biopsy confirmed κ-restricted crystal-storing renal disease involving proximal tubular epithelial cells and crystal storing histiocytosis. Multiple myeloma with crystal storing histiocytosis was discovered in bone marrow biopsy. Thus, we present an unusual case of a myeloma patient presenting light chain proximal tubulopathy and crystal-storing histiocytosis both in the kidney and in the bone marrow.

Introduction: In the current study, we have investigated the effects of the different modalities of treatment (volume of radiotherapy [RT], previous surgery) as well as the Gleason score of prostate cancer (PC) on the lymphocyte composition of PC patients undergoing RT. Methods: This is a monoinstitutional study that prospectively included PC patients that underwent RT from January 2016 until December 2017. To compare the different evaluations, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used among 2 times (Timepoint 0 to Timepoint 1). Percentage variation was calculated for all the lymphocyte subpopulation and was correlated with clinical parameters (previous surgery, Gleason score, and pelvic irradiation) with the χ2test. The statistical analysis was repeated also on the stratified dataset according to the above parameters (previous surgery, Gleason score, and whole pelvic radiotherapy [WPRT]). Results: One hundred and eleven patients were included in the present analysis. All the lymphocyte subpopulations resulted significantly lower after RT. The modifications of several lymphocyte subpopulations correlated with previous surgery, Gleason score, and WPRT, although stratified analysis demonstrated that WPRT showed the greatest correlation. Conclusion: Our results could be used to design a prospective trial in order to study the use of WPRT on the lymphocyte subpopulations.

Jak inhibitors are potent anti-inflammatory drugs that have the potential to dampen the hyperactive inflammatory response associated with severe COVID-19. We reviewed the clinical outcomes of 218 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized for severe pneumonia and treated with ruxolitinib through a compassionate use program. Data on the duration of treatment, outcomes at 4, 7, 14, and 28 days, oxygen support requirements, clinical status, and laboratory parameters were retrospectively collected. Overall, according to the physician evaluation, 66.5% of patients showed improvement at follow-up, of these, 83.5% showed improvement by day 7. Oxygen support status also showed improvement, and by day 7, 21.6% of patients were on ambient air, compared with 1.4% at baseline, which increased to 48.2% by day 28. Significant decreases in C-reactive protein and increases in the lymphocyte total count were already observed by day 4, which seemed to correlate with a positive outcome. At the end of the observation period, 87.2% of patients were alive. No unexpected safety findings were observed, and grade 3/4 adverse events were reported in 6.9% of patients.

Despite widespread use of decitabine to treat acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), data on its effectiveness and safety in the real-world setting are scanty. Thus, to analyze the performance of decitabine in clinical practice, we pooled together patient-level data of three multicentric observational studies conducted since 2013 throughout Italy, including 306 elderly AML patients (median age 75 years), unfit for intensive chemotherapy, treated with first-line decitabine therapy at the registered schedule of 20 mg/m2 /iv daily for 5 days every 4 weeks. Overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) curves, and multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality were computed. Overall, 1940 cycles of therapy were administered (median, 5 cycles/patient). A total of 148 subjects were responders and, therefore, ORR was 48.4%. Seventy-one patients (23.2%) had complete remission, 32 (10.5%) had partial remission, and 45 (14.7%) had haematologic improvement. Median OS was 11.6 months for patients with favourable-intermediate cytogenetic risk and 7.9 months for those with adverse cytogenetic risk. Median relapse-free survival after CR was 10.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.7-16.0). In multivariate analysis, mortality was higher in patients with adverse cytogenetic risk (HR=1.58; 95% CI: 1.13-2.21) and increased continuously with white blood cell (WBC) count (HR=1.12; 95% CI: 1.06-1.18). A total of 183 infectious adverse events occurred in 136 patients mainly (>90%) within the first five cycles of therapy. This pooled analysis of clinical care studies confirmed, outside of clinical trials, the effectiveness of decitabine as first-line therapy for AML in elderly patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy. An adverse cytogenetic profile and a higher WBC count at diagnosis were, in this real life setting, unfavourable predictors of survival.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is a clonal disorder characterized by the presence of the Ph-chromosome and the BCR-ABL tyrosine-kinase (TK). Target-therapy with Imatinib has greatly improved its outcome. Deeper and faster responses are reported with the second-generation TKI Nilotinib. Sustained responses may enable TKI discontinuation. However, even in a complete molecular response, some patients experience disease recurrence possibly due to persistence of quiescent leukemic CD34+/lin−Ph+ stem cells (LSCs). Degree and mechanisms of LSCs clearance during TKI treatment are not clearly established. The PhilosoPhi34 study was designed to verify the in-vivo activity and timecourse of first-line Nilotinib therapy on BM CD34+/lin−Ph+ cells clearance. Eighty-seven CP-CML patients were enrolled. BM cells were collected and tested for Ph+ residual cells, at diagnosis, 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. FISH analysis of unstimulated CD34+/lin− cells in CCyR patients were positive in 8/65 (12.3%), 5/71 (7%), 0/69 (0%) evaluable tests, respectively. Per-Protocol analysis response rates were as follows: CCyR 95% at 12 months, MR4.5 31% and 46% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. An exploratory Gene Expression Profiling (GEP) study of CD34+/lin− cells was performed on 30 patients at diagnosis and after, on 79 patients at diagnosis vs 12 months of nilotinib treatment vs 10 healthy subjects. Data demonstrated some genes significantly different expressed: NFKBIA, many cell cycle genes, ABC transporters, JAK-STAT signaling pathway (JAK2). In addition, a correlation between different expression of some genes (JAK2, OLFM4, ICAM1, NFKBIA) among patients at diagnosis and their achievement of an early and deeper MR was observed.

Highlights • Canakinumab is an IL-1β antibody that neutralizes the activity of IL-1β. • The effects of canakinumab in patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia were studied. • 33 patients received canakinumab and 15 received institutional standard of care. • Treatment with canakinumab rapidly restored normal oxygen status. • Canakinumab was also associated with favorable prognosis versus SoC., Objectives Canakinumab is an IL-1β antibody that neutralizes the activity of IL-1β. We studied the efficacy and safety of canakinumab in patients with moderate COVID-19-related pneumonia. Design The aim of our study was to evaluate the reduction in duration of hospitalization with adequate oxygen status. Forty-eight patients with moderate COVID-19-related pneumonia were asked to participate in the prospective case-control study; 33 patients (Cases) signed informed consent and received canakinumab (Cohort 1); 15 patients (Controls) refused to receive the experimental drug and received institutional standard of care (SoC), (Cohort 2). Results Hospital discharge within 21 days was seen in 63% of patients in Cohort 1 vs. 0% in Cohort 2 (median 14 vs 26 days, respectively; p

Purpose mTOR inhibitor everolimus is used for hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC). No reliable predictive biomarker of response is available. Following evidences from other solid tumors, we aimed to assess the association between treatment-associated immune system features and everolimus activity. Methods We retrospectively explored a correlation with the therapeutic activity of everolimus and tumor-associated immune pathways with ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), circulating lymphocytes, and endothelial cells (CECs) in 3 different HR+ mBC studies, including the BALLET phase IIIb study. Results The circulating levels of CD3+/CD8+, CD3+/CD4+, and overall T lymphocytes were higher in responders versus non-responders at baseline (p = 0.017, p p = 0.034) and after treatment (p = 0.01, p = 0.003, p = 0.023). Reduced CECs, a tumor neoangiogenesis marker, were observed in responders after treatment (p 4.4) (p = 0.01). IPA showed that the majority of immunity-related genes were found upregulated in responders compared to non-responders before treatment, but not after. Conclusions Lymphocytes subpopulations, CECs and NLR could be interesting biomarkers predictive of response to everolimus-based regimens, potentially useful in daily clinical practice to select/monitor everolimus-based treatment in mBC. Further studies to confirm such hypotheses are warranted.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal disorders that include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Patients with MPNs have a higher risk than the general population of developing a lymphoid neoplasm.1 It is still unclear whether this holds true for nonhematological second primary malignancies (SPMs).2-4 However, among 20 250 MPN patients included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database, the 10-year cumulative incidence of SPMs was 12.7%, significantly higher than that expected in the general US population.5 Ruxolitinib (RUX) is an oral JAK inhibitor (JAKi) approved for International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)/Dynamic IPSS (DIPSS) intermediate- and high-risk myelofibrosis (MF)6,7 and for inadequately controlled PV. More than 2600 RUX-treated MF patients have been prospectively observed for at least 2 years within the 2 pivotal COMFORT trials8,9 and the expanded-access JUMP trial.10,11 Safety data from these trials underline a possibly increased incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), but no significant increase of lymphoproliferative neoplasms, similarly to what occurs in PV.12,13 Recently, Porpaczy et al alerted, however, on the possible 16-fold increased risk of developing aggressive lymphomas in MPN patients treated with JAKis, especially in the presence of a preexisting B-cell clone.14 The publication included a total of 1555 MPN patients, 126 of whom were treated with a JAKi (ruxolitinib, gandotinib, fedratinib, momelotinib), obtained assembling 2 broad academic data sets. In the well-described Viennese cohort, 3 of 31 MF patients treated with JAKi developed lymphomas. Median time from JAKi initiation to lymphoma diagnosis was 25 months. Subsequent analyses of other large academic data sets did, however, not confirm an increased risk of aggressive lymphoma development under JAKis in MPNs15,16 and in post-PV and post-ET MF (secondary MF [SMF]).17 These contradictory results were derived either from clinical trials with strict eligibility criteria, possibly at the expense of uncertainty about the generalizability of results, or from highly selected data sets of patients evaluated at referral centers, thus highlighting the need for real-world data (RWD). We consequently set out to assess the occurrence of SPMs, including lymphoproliferative neoplasms, in RUX-treated MF patients on the basis of RWD provided by the health authority of the Lombardy Region, integrated with institutional data.

Background: In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), thrombocytopenia is associated with mortality and treatments in this setting are scarce. We tested whether eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, be effective in improving outcomes in lower-risk MDS with severe thrombocytopenia within a multicentre clinical trial (EQoL-MDS). Initial interim results of short-term efficacy and safety have been published (Oliva et al. Lancet Hem 2017) in the first 90 subjects. We present interim results of the second phase for long-term results in the initial 90 of 174 subjects. Methods: In a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial of adult patients with International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS and severe thrombocytopenia. Adult patients with a stable platelet (PLT) count Results: The first 90 subjects were enrolled between 2011 and 2016. Characteristics of patients have been previously published (Lancet Hem 2017). PLT responses occurred in 28 (47.5%) of 59 patients in the eltrombopag group versus 1 (3.2%) of 31 patients in the placebo group (odds ratio 27.1 [95% CI 3.5-211.9], p=0.002) in median time 14 days (95% CI 7-40 days). Severe bleeding (WHO bleeding score ≥2) occurred in 19 patients, with a significantly higher incidence in the placebo (11 [35.3%] of 31 patients) than in the eltrombopag arm (8 [13.6%] of 59 patients; p=0.015). Sixty-eight grade 3-4 adverse events occurred in 30 of 59 (50.8%) eltrombopag patients versus 10 events in 6 of 31 placebo cases (19.4%;χ2=8,4, p=0.004, stopping rule not reached). The outcomes acute myeloid leukemia (AML) evolution, progression and death occurred in 5 (8.5%), 4 (6.8%), and 5 (8.5%), respectively of 59 eltrombopag cases versus 2 (6.5%), 3 (9.7%), 2 (6.5%), respectively of 31 placebo cases (P ranging from 0.69 to 1.00). Median LFS, combined outcome (AML, disease progression and death) and OS were not reached in the whole group. Differences in LFS, combined outcome and OS at 2 and 5 years by study arms were adjusted for baseline bone marrow blasts since the proportion of patients with >2% blasts (i.e. the median value of the whole study cohort) tended to be higher (P=0.06) in Eltrombopag (59.3%) than in placebo treated (38.7%) patients and resulted to be a strong predictor of study outcomes at both 2 and 5 years (P Conclusion. Eltrombopag is well-tolerated in patients with lower-risk MDS and severe thrombocytopenia and is clinically effective in raising PLT count and reducing bleeding events. QoL improves with response to treatment. The assessment of long-term safety and efficacy of eltrombopag and its effect on survival (phase 2 part of study) is still ongoing. Disclosures Oliva: Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Apellis: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Alati:Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Santini:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Johnson & Johnson: Honoraria; Acceleron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Menarini: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Giai:Pfizer: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Balleari:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ferrero:Novartis: Honoraria. Germing:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Fenaux:Aprea: Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astex: Honoraria, Research Funding. Palumbo:Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Teva: Honoraria; Hospira: Honoraria. Liberati:Novartis: Other: Clinical trial support; Janssen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Clinical trial support; Roche: Other: Clinical trial support; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Clinical trial support; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Clinical trial support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy. Molteni:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Buccisano:Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Bocchia:Novartis: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Candoni:Merck SD: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria. Martino:Bristol myers squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Latagliata:Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: Eltrombopag is indicated for: 1. the treatment of patients aged 1 year and above with primary immunethrombocytopenia (ITP) lasting 6 months or longer from diagnosis and who are refractory to other treatments; 2. in adult patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for the treatment of thrombocytopenia, where the degree of thrombocytopenia is the main factor preventing the initiation or limiting the ability to maintain optimal interferon-based therapy; 3. in adult patients with acquired severe aplastic anaemia who were either refractory to prior immunosuppressive therapy or heavily pretreated and are unsuitable for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Introduction Lenalidomide (Len) and low-dose Dexamethasone (dex) (Rd) in continuous is a new standard of care for elderly newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients (pts), as established by FIRST trial (Facon et al, Blood 2018). Methods and results This is a retrospective, multicentric study conducted in Italy with the aim of evaluating efficacy and tolerability of Rd in a real-life population. Thirty-seven centers were involved and data of 429 pts are available. Pts were considered eligible for the study when completing at least 2 cycles of Rd regimen. Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of pts at time of MM diagnosis. Median age was 78 years (range 57-92), 36.6% had an ECOG PS≥2, creatinine clearance (ClCr) was After a median follow-up of 11 months, most pts are still on treatment (60,4%), the median number of administered cycles was 7 (range 2-33). Overall response rate (ORR, ≥PR) was 74.5% with 34.1% of pts obtaining at least a VGPR. Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR, including minimal responses) was 83.3%. Responses were rapid with median time to first and to best response respectively of 1.8 (range 1-8) and 5 (1-26) months. Median OS and PFS were not reached with a 1-y and 2-y OS of 84.8 and 73.8% and a 1-y and 2-y PFS of 78.6 and 65%. Median EFS was 19.8 months. In univariate analysis, factors significatively impairing ORR were frailty (fit/unfit/frail 91.2/77/55.9%, p2 81.7/61.6%, p upper level of normal (ULN) (65.8 vs 77%, p=0.034). 1-y PFS is significantly shorter in pts with lower ECOG (0-1 vs 2, 66.5 vs 84.8%, pULN (66.4 vs 83.2%, p=0.02), lower ClCr (50 57.2/81.3/80.1%, P=0.01), presence of t(14;16) (42.9 vs 80.4% p=0.01) and amp(1q) (63.5 vs 85.6%, p=0.01); factor impairing OS are ECOG (0-1/>2 93.4 vs 69.4%, pULN (75.1 vs 97.1, p=0004), impaired ClCr (50 64/83.7/88.2%, p2 74.2 vs 47.3%, p In multivariate analysis ORR is significantly correlated with ECOG>2 (p=0.05), LDH >ULN (p=0.005) and presence of amp1q (p=0.006); PFS was significantly affected by R-ISS III (p=0.04), LDH >ULN (P=0.01) and ClCr2 still impact on OS (p Dose reduction of Len or dex was required respectively in 20.7% and 22.1% and 39.2% needed cycle delay for adverse events (AEs). Grade 3-4 (G3-4) AEs occurred in 52% of pts with 30.9 and 36.6% having at least a hematological or extra-hematological G3-4 AE. In particular, 17.9 and 16.6% of pts had severe neutropenia and anemia while the most common non-hematological AEs were infections (25.8%, G3-4 12.2%), mainly involving respiratory tract (71.2%). Gastroenteric and cutaneous AEs were quite common (22.1 and 19.2%), mainly diarrhea and itching, but in the vast majority were mild. G3-4 asthenia was present in 22.8% of pts. Although 99% of pts was given antithrombotic prophylaxis, 8.5% had a thromboembolic event, a third of severe entity. G-CSF and EPO analogs were required in 27.4 and 26% of pts. Conclusion Real-life data confirm efficacy and tolerability of Rd in elderly NDMM pts. Performance status by ECOG and IMWG frailty score and severe renal impairment but not age itself act as limiting factors affecting outcome. These data must be confirmed by longer follow-up. Disclosures Conticello: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Mangiacavalli:Janssen cilag: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy. Zambello:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Belotti:Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Molteni:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Aquino:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Del Fabro:Janssen: Consultancy. Galli:Leadiant (Sigma-Tau): Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria.

The improvement in supportive care and the introduction of new therapeutic agents, including lenalidomide and hypomethylating agents, in myelodysplastic syndromes have improved patients' outcomes; however, at the same time, the frequency and epidemiology of infections have changed. Therefore, the great strides in the indications and use of new treatment strategies for myelodysplastic syndromes need a parallel progress in the best approach to prophylaxis and supportive therapy for infections. Based on the recognition that the above issues represent an unmet clinical need in myelodysplastic syndromes, an Italian expert panel performed a review of the literature and composed a framework of the best recommendations for optimal infection control in patient candidates to receive active treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes. In this consensus document we report the outcomes of that review and of the consensus meetings held during 2017. The issues tackled in the project dealt with: information to be collected from candidates for active treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes; how to monitor the risk of infection; antimicrobial prophylaxis; the role of iron chelation and antiviral/antibacterial vaccinations. For each of these issues, practice recommendations are provided.

Azacitidine (AZA) treatment is effective treatment for patients with myeloid disorders, and factors predictive of treatment outcome are under investigation. Little is known about the effect of bone marrow fibrosis on response to AZA therapy. We, retrospectively, evaluated clinical predictors of overall survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR) for patients treated with AZA in a real-life cohort. We evaluated 94 consecutive patients treated with AZA outside of clinical trials (75mg/m2/day for 7 days every 28 days; 5 + 2 + 2 schedule), from June 2009 to February 2016. Ninety-three patients were evaluated for response. After a median of 6 cycles, ORR-complete response (CR; including marrow CR) + partial response (PR) + hematological improvement (HI)-was 41.9% (CR = 18.3%; PR = 11.8%; HI = 11.8%). Stable disease was observed in 21.5%, and failure in 36.5%. Pre-AZA bone marrow blast percentage, International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) or IPSS-R category, and time from diagnosis to AZA had no effect on response. Median OS from start of therapy was 18.5 months, and was significantly related to higher IPSS category (P = .01), poor cytogenetics according to the IPSS (P = .01), poor and very poor cytogenetics according to the IPSS-R (P = .02), and lower ORR (P = .006). Patients with MF-0 pre-AZA demonstrated significantly higher ORR, (CR + PR + HI) and stable disease, and lower failure rates than those with any grade of fibrosis. Indeed, cases with pre-AZA fibrosis > MF-1 had shorter OS (P = .005). Achievement of HI before 4 cycles of treatment negatively impacted OS (P = .009).

Objective The medullar blast count is a milestone in the prognostic assessment in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The optical microscopy (OM) may sometimes be inaccurate in this disease. The aim of this work is to test the flow immunocytometric (FCM) determinations of medullar immature cells (CD45±) and the expression, among them, of CD33, CD34, and CD117 markers, for their prognostic relevance. Methods In a retrospective analysis of 98 patients affected by MDS, the IPSS was re-calculated by means of the FCM determination of blasts. Survival of patients at low or intermediate-1 IPSS risk was compared with the survival of patients at intermediate-2 or high IPSS risk. In the 64 cases with OM blast count lower than 5%, the survival of patients with the FCM count of medullar blasts ≤2% was compared with that of patients with FCM count >2%. Results Each single marker had a prognostic weight comparable to the optical blast count. The FCM blast count was particularly efficient in distinguishing the risk of having up to 2% or more than 2% of blasts in patients without OM excess of blasts. Conclusion This method is interesting as prognostic tool, especially in patients without excess of blast.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) represents the only curative treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but involves non-negligible morbidity and mortality. Crucial questions in clinical decision-making include the definition of optimal timing of the procedure and the benefit of cytoreduction before transplant in high-risk patients. We carried out a decision analysis on 1728 MDS who received supportive care, transplantation or hypomethylating agents (HMAs). Risk assessment was based on the revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R). We used a continuous-time multistate Markov model to describe the natural history of disease and evaluate the effect of different treatment policies on survival. Life expectancy increased when transplantation was delayed from the initial stages to intermediate IPSS-R risk (gain-of-life expectancy 5.3, 4.7 and 2.8 years for patients aged ⩽55, 60 and 65 years, respectively), and then decreased for higher risks. Modeling decision analysis on IPSS-R versus original IPSS changed transplantation policy in 29% of patients, resulting in a 2-year gain in life expectancy. In advanced stages, HMAs given before transplant is associated with a 2-year gain-of-life expectancy, especially in older patients. These results provide a preliminary evidence to maximize the effectiveness of allo-SCT in MDS.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in lower-risk, transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated with deferasirox. A secondary objective was to investigate the relationship between HRQOL, serum ferritin levels and transfusion dependency.This was a prospective multicentre study enrolling 159 patients, of whom 152 received at least one dose of deferasirox. HRQOL was assessed with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at baseline and then at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Primary analysis was performed estimating mean HRQOL scores over time by a linear mixed model on selected scales.The median age of treated patients was 72 years (range 24-87 years). No statistically significant changes over time were found in mean scores for global health status/quality of life (p=0.564), physical functioning (p=0.409) and fatigue (p=0.471) scales. Also, no significant changes were found for constipation (p=0.292), diarrhoea (p=0.815) and nausea and vomiting (p=0.643). Serum ferritin levels were not associated with HRQOL outcomes. A higher patient-reported baseline pain severity was an independent predictive factor of an earlier achievement of transfusion independence with a HR of 1.032 (99% CI 1.004 to 1.060; p=0.003).HRQOL of transfusion-dependent patients with MDS receiving deferasirox therapy remains stable over time. HRQOL assessment might also provide important predictive information on treatment outcomes.NCT00469560.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) seem to be a relevant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. We studied retrospectively the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and outcome of invasive fungal infections in 42 patients with lymphoproliferative diseases, treated between January 2004 and February 2012 for probable or proven IFI. In our entire population (1355 patients) of chronic lymphoproliferative malignancies, the incidence of probable/proven IFI was 3% (molds 2.3%, yeasts 0.5%, mixed infections 0.2%). Eight patients developed a yeast infection documented by blood cultures in seven cases and by the microscopic observation of Candida spp. in the vitreum after vitrectomy in one case. Among molds we diagnosed three proven infections by histologic evidence of Aspergillus spp. (n = 2) and Mucor (n = 1) in the lung and 28 probable mycoses. Three mixed infections from both molds and yeasts were also observed. Twenty-two cases showed positivity of galactomannan antigen in the serum (n = 16), in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (n = 4) or in both (n = 2). Cultures were positive in 11 cases. The overall rate of response to therapy was 64%. Fungal-attributable mortality rate was 17%, with a significant difference between molds and yeasts (16% vs. 25%, p = 0.03). At univariate analysis, the only risk factors related to mortality were severe and prolonged neutropenia (p = 0.003) and age (p = 0.03). Among molds, the rapid start of antifungals was probably partially responsible, together with new drugs, for the reduction of mortality, despite the severe immunosuppression of these patients.

Introduction: Erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) are first-line therapy for International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)-low risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) when symptomatic anaemia (Hb Attempts have been made to build prognostic scores (integrating transfusion need, erythropoietin level, R-IPSS and ferritin) able to predict response to ESAs (6-7). No data concerning the predictive value of morphological and immunohistochemical analysis on bone marrow biopsy in low risk MDS patients are emerged till now. Methods: We retrospectively examined 96 IPSS low/int-1 MDS patients treated with ESAs in order to evaluate the morphological and immunohistochemical features of the bone marrow biopsies performed at baseline. All the patients had hemoglobin (Hb) ≤10 g/dL and serum EPO A detailed analysis of the morphological features (including quantitative and qualitative changes in the erythroid, myeloid and megakariopoyetic lineages) was performed, together with an immunohistochemical evaluation of p53 expression and CD34-positive blasts percentage. Results: Sixty-eight percent of the patients were classified as responder while 32% as non-responder. The morphologic profiles of the responder and non-responder did not differ significantly. A significant correlation was found between the response to the therapy and a percentage of CD34-positive blasts > 3% (univariate analysis: p= .0211). Moreover p53 expression in less than 1% of the nucleated cells correlated with the treatment response (univariate analysis: p = .0086). These results were also confirmed on multivariate analysis (p= .002). Fifty-eight percent of patients maintained response to ESAs for the entire duration of the follow up while 42% lost the response (median follow up: 35 months). More than 3% CD34-positive blasts was associated with a higher probability to lose the response to ESAs (p = .00003). Kaplan-Meier method was than applied to estimate the response duration. Patients with more than 3% CD34-positive blasts showed earlier loss of response in comparison with those with a lower percentage of blasts (p value= .0003; HR=3.9, IC 95% 1.8154-8.6238). Finally, the expression of p53 in more than ≥ 1% of the nucleated cells correlated with the loss of response before 24 mounts (p value= 0.029). Conclusions: Our study identifies 2 well-known parameters that could be useful to better predict outcome of ESAs therapy in low risk MDS patients. Therefore role of bone marrow biopsy together with its diagnostic contribution in the clinical evaluation of MDS patients (cellularity, morphologic dysplasia, percentage of CD34-positive blasts, grading of bone marrow fibrosis) could be helpful as a predictive tool in ESAs candidate patients. Further studies based on larger series of patients are needed to confirm these preliminary results. Disclosures Reda: Gilead: Consultancy; ABBVIE: Consultancy; Janssen and Cilag: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Riva:Jannsen and Cilag: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Molteni:Janssen and Cilag: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Italfarmaco: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; AMGEN: Consultancy. Cortelezzi:abbvie: Consultancy; novartis: Consultancy; roche: Consultancy; janssen: Consultancy.

Background: Severe thrombocytopenia is an uncommon event in patients (pts) with lower-risk MDS, but it may significantly affect the prognosis. No specific pharmacological approaches other than hypometilating agents (not licensed in Europe in lower-risk MDS), able to improve platelet count in this setting, are currently available. Trials testing efficacy and safety of Eltrombopag are ongoing (Oliva 2017). Few data were reported about danazol, an attenuated androgen, that seems to have also some effectiveness in this still unmet need (Wattel 1994; Chan 2002). Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of danazol in improving the platelet count in low risk MDS pts with severe thrombocytopenia. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 35 thrombocytopenic MDS pts treated with danazol. The initial and maximal dose was 600 mg/day for all pts, modulated according to response and toxicity. The response was evaluated according to IWG response criteria (Cheson 2006). The outcome was strictly observed every 3 months (mo) up to the 12th mo, and the platelets average number in each observation moment was described. The time to response, the response rate and the enduring of response were also recorded. Results: Of the 35 pts, according to 2016 WHO classification, 4 pts were MDS-ULD; 19 were MDS-MLD (3 of them with medullar hypocellularity), 7 were MDS-EB1 and 5 were affected by MDS/MPN. At baseline the platelet count was lower than 20x10^3/mL in 11 pts, the median was 23x10^3/mL . At starting time of danazol therapy the IPSS-R cytogenetic class of risk was very low in 2 cases, low in 28 cases, intermediate in 3 cases and very high in 1 case. Cytogenetic was not available in one patient. In the 30 MDS pts, the IPSS-R was "very low" in 1 patient, "low" in 16, "intermediate" in 7, "high" in 4 and "very high" in 1. In 1 case it was not evaluable due to the lack of cytogenetics. Two pts were not included in the analysis because they were treated for less than 3 mo (in 1 case danazol was withdraw to permit the beginning of another therapy and in 1 case due to death for other neoplastic disease). The response rate was 63,6% (21 responders on 33 evaluable). Median time to response was 3.5 mo (range 0.3 - 12.4 mo); the average response time was 5.09 mo. In the first year of treatment, the platelet count (evaluated at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 mo) changed in a significant way (F test after repeated measures ANOVA: p < 0.001 as shown in Figure 1). Pairwise comparisons of platelet count according to Bonferroni showed a significant difference for baseline vs. 3 mo (p = 0.0013), baseline vs 6 mo (p = 0.0255), baseline vs 9 mo (p = 0.0047) and baseline vs 12 mo (p = 0.0014); however, no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) in counts were seen for all the further pairwise comparisons at 3, 6, 9 and 12 mo. The median and average duration of the response for the entire population were respectively 12,5 and 32,5 mo. Only 6 of the 21 responders (28%) lost the response (the median and average duration of response were respectively 5.8 and 12.9 mo). Within the 21 responders, the median progression free survival was not reached after 24 mo. The probability to maintain the response after 50 mo was assessed at 58.2% (C.I. 24.1% to 81.4% - Figure 2). The overall survival showed a significant difference (logrank test: p = 0.0064) between responders and non-responders (Figure 3). Adverse events recorded were as follows: moderate (grade 1 and 2) increase in transaminases in 4 cases (with reduction of danazol to 400 mg/day); 1 case of severe but reversible liver toxicity (grade 3) (with subsequently drug suspension); severe (grade 3) but reversible renal failure in 1 case (the drug was stopped); moderate (grade 1 and 2) increasing of serum creatinine in 6 case (with reduction of danazol to 400 mg/day in 2 of these); reversible cutaneous rash in 3 cases; amenorrhea in 1 case (the only fertile woman in the series); weight loss and loss of appetite in 1 case, weight gain in 1 case. Conclusion: Even if the mechanism of action of danazol in pts with MDS is unclear, this series confirms its efficacy to improve platelet count in the most of MDS pts with severe thrombocytopenia. The response was often clinically significant. It may not be immediate but seems to be reachable after 3-6 mo of treatment. A responsive patient has a good probability to maintain a long-lasting response. The toxicity profile of this drug is acceptable. Waiting for more effective options, danazol may be a good therapeutic option for these pts. Disclosures Riva: Jannsen and Cilag: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Reda:Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen and Cilag: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; ABBVIE: Consultancy. Molteni:AMGEN: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Italfarmaco: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen and Cilag: Consultancy.

The Hellström-Lindberg score (HLS) (1997) is designed to predict erythroid response to erythropoietin treatment in myelodysplastic patients. In order to test the validity of this scoring system, 58 patients affected by myelodysplastic syndrome, treated with a "standard dose" approach between 2001 and 2010, were analyzed. The response to erythropoietin treatment was evaluated in accordance with the "international working group" (IWG) criteria. Among the patients only two were scored "poor," 12 "intermediate," and 44 "good" (15 of whom were scored "3" and 29 "4"). Although the system was verified as a predictive tool for response to erythropoietin therapy, we noted that of patients scored as "good," those with a numerical score of "4" responded more frequently than did those scored "3", as evaluated under both the 2006- and 2000-IWG ("major response") criteria. The modest response rate in patients scoring "3" did not show a difference in response rate in comparison to the "intermediate" group. The present data suggest that only patients scoring "4" on the scale may show an adequate response to the standard dose erythropoietin therapy, while frontline high-dose therapy should be offered to other patients. A further analysis considering endogenous erythropoietin as a possible determinant of response revealed the optimal cut-off value of 80 mIU/mL, instead of the value of 100 mIU/mL utilized by the HLS.

Summary Background In myelodysplastic syndromes, thrombocytopenia is associated with mortality, but treatments in this setting are scarce. We tested whether eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, might be effective in improving thrombocytopenia in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and severe thrombocytopenia. Methods EQoL-MDS was a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 superiority trial of adult patients with low-risk or International Prognostic Scoring System intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and severe thrombocytopenia. Patients with a stable platelet count of lower than 30 × 10 9 platelets per L, aged at least 18 years, with refractoriness, ineligibility to receive treatment with alternative medications, or relapse while receiving treatment with alternative medications were included in this trial. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive eltrombopag (50 mg to 300 mg) or placebo for at least 24 weeks and until disease progression and were masked to treatment allocation. Here, we report the results in the intention-to-treat population of the first phase of the trial, for which the primary endpoints were the proportion of patients achieving a platelet response within 24 weeks and safety. The interim analysis presented here was protocol-specified and used a two-sided significance level of 0·001 and a p value at or below this limit for both primary endpoints to indicate the need for early trial termination. Duration of platelet transfusion independence, duration of response, overall survival, leukaemia-free survival, and pharmacokinetics will be reported at the end of the phase 2 portion of the trial. This trial is registered with EudraCT, number 2010-022890-33. Findings Between June 13, 2011, and June 17, 2016, we enrolled 90 participants for the first phase of the trial. The median follow-up time to assess platelet responses was 11 weeks (IQR 4–24). Platelet responses occurred in 28 (47%) of 59 patients in the eltrombopag group versus one (3%) of 31 patients in the placebo group (odds ratio 27·1 [95% CI 3·5–211·9], p=0·0017). During the follow-up, 21 patients had at least one severe bleeding event (WHO bleeding score ≥2). There were a higher number of bleeders in the placebo (13 [42%] of 31 patients) than in the eltrombopag arm (eight [14%] of 59 patients; p=0·0025). 52 grade 3–4 adverse events occurred in 27 (46%) of 59 patients in the eltrombopag group versus nine events in five (16%) of 31 patients in the placebo group (χ 2 =7·8, p=0·0053, stopping rule not reached). The outcome acute myeloid leukaemia evolution or disease progression occurred in seven (12%) of 59 patients in the eltrombopag group versus five (16%) of 31 patients in the placebo group (χ 2 =0·06, p=0·81). Interpretation Eltrombopag is well-tolerated in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and severe thrombocytopenia and is clinically effective in raising platelet counts and reducing bleeding events. The assessment of long-term safety and efficacy of eltrombopag and its effect on survival (phase 2 part of study) is still ongoing. Funding Associazione QOL-ONE.

For refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia patients, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment option, but the disease must be in remission before this can be attempted. “Salvage” therapy regimens containing high-dose cytarabine plus fludarabine or cladribine with or without anthracyclines or plus mitoxantrone and etoposide fail in 30–50% of cases. We report the outcome of 14 patients treated with a clofarabine-based treatment administered after at least one failed fludarabine-based “salvage” attempt in a “real life” (outside a clinical trial) context. No death related to the clofarabine-based treatment was observed. Four of the 14 patients (29%) reached complete remission and one (7%) achieved a reduction of marrow blasts to fewer than 10%. Three of these five patients were successfully transplanted and have shown a long-term survival. The small number of this group of patients does not permit the identification of clinical features clearly related to a favorable outcome, but we note that all the three long-term survivals were FLT3 wild type. Clofarabine-based “salvage therapy” in patients with very poor expectancy is feasible even after a fludarabine-based salvage attempt, albeit with success only in a small percentage of cases (3/14 = 21%).

5-Azacytidine is an effective therapy in high risk MDS and oligoblastic AML. This "real life" analysis was made on 185 patients treated with 5-azacytidine in 10 centers afferent to REL ("Rete Ematologica Lombarda"), a network in Lombardia region. The aim was to assess the influence of disease and comorbidity risk assessments on the survival. The results confirm the utility of 5-azacitidine in prolonging OS regardless of advanced age and the presence of comorbidities. They also encourage an early treatment since patients with IPSS-R High risk MDS have better outcome with respect to Very High risk ones. According to the IPSS cytogenetic risk, there was no difference in the outcome between Intermediate and High risk patients. Nevertheless, a poorer cytogenetic risk, according to the IPSS-R cytogenetic stratification, negatively influenced the outcome.

Background In the absence of randomized, controlled trial data to support iron chelation therapy in transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), continued evidence from large prospective clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of iron chelation therapy in this patient population is warranted. Methods The safety and efficacy of deferasirox was examined in a prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial of transfusion-dependent patients with International Prognostic Scoring System low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS and evidence of transfusion-related iron overload. The effects of deferasirox therapy on hematological response and disease progression were also examined. Results Of 159 participants enrolled from 37 Italian centers, 152 received ≥1 dose of deferasirox (initiated at 10–20 mg/kg/day and titrated as appropriate), and 68 completed the study. Of 84 patients who discontinued deferasirox therapy, 22 died during the trial, and 28 withdrew due to an adverse event (AE). Fourteen treatment-related grade 3 AEs occurred in 11 patients, whereas no grade 4 or 5 drug-related AEs were reported. Significant risks for dropout were a higher serum ferritin level at baseline, a higher MDS-Specific Comorbidity Index, and a shorter diagnosis–enrollment interval. Median serum ferritin level fell from 1966 ng/mL to 1475 ng/mL (P

A proper assessment of elderly patients is a relevant clinical problem in the onco-hematological setting. In this context, age and extra-hematological morbidity are of primary importance, but performance status and overall functionality related to geriatric age, as physical abilities, cognitive aspects and ability to self-management are not negligible. Thus, a defined multi-dimensional assessment is needed to differentiate between fit, unfit and frail older adults (Klepin ASH Education Program 2014). We propose a tool to evaluate the tolerance to more or less intensive treatments in over 60 years aged patients, and to estimate the impact on the outcome. Our algorithm is based on 4 main variables universally recognized: age, performance status, comorbidities and geriatric aspects (functional, physical and cognitive). 1- As regards age, two cut-off values were considered: 70-years limit because it represents the threshold below which the allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may still run; and the 85-year limit because it denotes the edge beyond which chemotherapy (also non-intensive) should not be administered. 2- About performance status, it was chosen the ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) scale more or equal to 3 as the limit beyond which chemotherapy should be avoided. 3- Considering co-morbidities, the SIE, SIES GITMO group consensus-based definition of inability to intensive and non-intensive chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (Ferrara et al. Leukemia 2013) was chosen to identify both patients candidate to intensive or candidate to only non-intensive chemotherapy. 4- Approaching the geriatric assessment, two levels of impairment were considered: the most important level of seriousness occurs when the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functional scale is not overtaken; the lowest level of seriousness is verified if at least one among the functional Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale or the physical Short Physical Performace Battery (SPPB) scale or the cognitive Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale are not overcome. The stratification of patients works with some steps that must be excluded in order to get over the various levels of fitness (Figure 1). We call this approach the NO-chain algorithm. It foresees that: - Patient with at least one of the following features are considered frail: 85 or more years of age; at least 3 of ECOG; assessed functional impairment with the ADL scale - Not-frail patient with at least one of the following features are considered unfit: age over 70 years; at least one of criteria, according to the SIE, SIES GITMO consensus-based definition of inability to intensive chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia; at least one among functional impairment assessed by IADL scale - All patients who get through all these steps are considered fit and potentially eligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Although the used cut-off levels might need amelioration in the practice, the basic principle of this algorithm is the definition of fitness actually correlated to the patient's condition in itself, regardless of the hematological disease. The algorithm was originally developed for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but subsequently applied to patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and to the other hematological malignancies. The application is undoubtedly different, depending on the disease the patient is affected by and its classification. For instance: an AML frail patients, regardless of biological risk, can be candidate only to supportive care; a low-risk MDS frail patients may still be candidate to pharmacological therapy as erythropoiesis stimulating agents or iron chelation therapy. The validation of this algorithm has to be carried out within each hematologic malignancy and must take into account the specific application. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background The p53 protein is an onco-suppressor protein encoded by the TP53 gene, which is mutated in 5-10% of cases of de novo myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In 75% of cases TP53 mutations lead to store the p53 protein within the nucleus of the neoplastic cells. TP53 mutations were shown to have an unfavorable prognostic impact in patients with MDS. The immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of p53 in bone marrow (BM) biopsy has in itself negative impact on prognosis in low risk MDS, especially in MDS with isolated del(5q) category. However, the p53 cut-off value related to prognosis has not been established with accuracy, ranging between 1 and 5% in different reports. Moreover, no data are available on the possible prognostic impact of p53 BM expression and cut-off levels in patients with higher risk MDS. Aim To evaluate the prognostic value of IHC expression of p53in BM biopsies from patients with intermediate, high and very high R-IPSS risk MDS Methods BM biopsies performed at diagnosis in patients with intermediate, high and very high R-IPSS risk MDS with a follow up of at least three years were revised and screened for IHC p53 expression. Percentage of p53 expression was evaluated by two independent pathologists (L.B.; M.T.), and related to patient survival. Only cells with strong p53 staining were counted as positive. The statistical evaluations were carried out with the logistic analysis and the influence of p53 expression on survival was analyzed by Cox regression. A ROC analysis was carried out using theYouden method to analyze the optimal cut-off value influencing the survival. The verification was performed with the positive and negative predictive values (respectively PPV and NPV), the sensibility and the specificity with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Survivorships were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier product limit method, followed by the logrank test, and by the Cox proportional-hazard regression. The association among categorical variables was evaluated by Fisher exact test. Results A total of 60 BM biopsies performed at MDS diagnosis were screened for p53 expression. Themedian age of these 60 patients was 67 years (range 19 - 82). Diagnoses, according to WHO, were RCMD in 26/60 (43.3%) cases; RAEB1 in 21/60 (35%) cases; RAEB2 in 13/60 (21.7%) cases. The IPSS-R was intermediate in 43 (71.7%) cases; high in 9 (15%) cases and very high in 8 (13.3%) cases. Cytogenetic risk according to the IPSS-R stratification was: very low in 1(1.6%) case; low in 30 (50%) cases; intermediate in 10 (16.7%) cases; high in 12 (20%) cases; very high in 7 (11.7%) cases. Median overall survival was 41 months. The p53 expression was: < 1% in 39 cases (65.0%), 1% in 5 cases (8.3%), 2% in 6 cases (10.0%), 3% in 2 cases (3.3%), 5% in 3 cases (5.0%),at least 10% in 5 cases (8.3%). Upon analysis, a significant association between percentage of p53 expression and patient survival was found (p=0.013; Hazard Ratio 1.067; 95%CI: 1.014 - 1.124). A cut-off value of 10% p53 expression was associated with outcome (specificity 100%; sensibility 13.5%;PPV 100%; NPV 41.8%). Specifically, as shown in figure 1, a significantly better overall survival was observed in the 55 (91.7%) patients whose BM p53 expression was < 10% compared to the 5 (8.3 %) patients with a BM p53 expression at least 10% (p=0.0038). No association was found between either BM blast countor BM grade of fibrosis and p53 expression.A significant association between the cytogenetic risk according to R-IPSS stratification and the expression of p53was instead found: any single unitary arbitrary increase in the cytogenetic risk score rises by 1600% the odds of a BM p53 expression at least 10% (p=0.015). Conclusion In our study population we confirm the unfavorable prognostic significance of BM p53 expression in higher risk MDS patients. Contrary to the reported cut-off values of p53 expression in low risk MDS, in our cohort of higher risk MDS the levels related to prognosis were greater (10% compared with 1 to 5% according to different reports). A tentative explanation for this difference may be that factors other than p53 expression strongly impact on survival in patients with higher risk MDS. Thus the negative prognostic value of p53 only emerges at higher levels of expression. The association between p53 expression and the IPSS-R cytogenetic risk score, if confirmed on a larger cohort, should be evaluated in specific biologic investigations. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Azacitidine (AZA) is effective in high risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia type 2 (CMML-2) and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients not suitable for more intensive treatment. Factors that may influence response to AZA are still under investigation. Bone marrow fibrosis is a potentially negative prognostic marker on overall survival (OS), but its clinical significance in this setting of patients remains to be clarified. We evaluated clinical predictors of OS and overall response rate (ORR; complete/partial response CR/PR; stable/progressive disease SD/PD) to AZA in a real life cohort. We studied 94 consecutive patients, treated at two Institutions from June 2009 till February 2016 with AZA subcutaneously (5+2+2 schedule) every 28 days, outside clinical trials. We analyzed data from routine laboratory analysis, bone marrow histology, morphology and cytogenetics at diagnosis. OS was measured from the starting of AZA treatment. Table 1 shows the clinical characteristics pre- and post-AZA: most patients (68%) were AREB1 or AREB2, 13% RCUD/RCMD or MDS NOS according to WHO 2008 classification, 17% AML, 2% CMML. At the onset of AZA therapy the majority of MDS cases (68%) showed an intermediate-2 risk, according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) and high/very high risk (78%) according to IPSS-revised. Secondary and de novo cases, as well as cytogenetics risk groups, were equally represented; 50% of patients were transfusion dependant and moderate to severe neutropenia or thrombocytopenia were present in roughly 50/70% of cases respectively. As expected, bone marrow biopsies pre-AZA showed hypercellularity in most patients (65%). Remarkably, 47,5% of cases showed bone marrow fibrosis of ≥1 grade before AZA initiation. These findings were mostly unchanged at post-AZA evaluation. On the whole, 93 patients receiving > 4 cycles of therapy were available for response evaluation according to International Working Group 2006 criteria. After a median of 6 cycles (4-44), ORR was 41.9% (CR 18.3%, PR 11.8%, SD with hematologic improvement HI 11.8%), SD was 21.5%, PD 10.7% and 25.8% failed to achieve a response. Thirteen percent of patients reached at least partial cytogenetic response and 50% a HI. ORR was not influenced by monocytosis, neutropenia or IPSS cytogenetic risk category. Interestingly, pre-AZA marrow blast percentage, cytogenetic risk, time from diagnosis to AZA and the interval from 1st to 6th cycle had no impact on response. As regards marrow characteristics, patients with MF-0 pre-AZA displayed significantly lower PD rate and higher ORR, SD and HI than those with any grade of fibrosis (21.4% vs 51.4% and 78.6% vs 48,6%, respectively p=0.006, Fig1). This observation was also confirmed at marrow evaluation after AZA (22% versus 48% for PD and 78% versus 52% for ORR/SD/HI, p=0.05, Fig1). Regarding cellularity pre- and post-AZA, higher ORR,SD and HI and lower PD were observed for patients with normo/hypo compared to those with hyper-cellularity (Fig1) although not significantly. Forty-one percent of cases presented a hematologic toxicity (33% neutropenia and 18% thrombocytopenia of any grade) occurring after a median of 2 (1-18) AZA cycles. Moreover 28.6% of patients had an infection during AZA treatment, not related to neutropenia degree. Of note, toxicities did not affect median time from the 1st to the 6th AZA cycle (170,115-240 days), nor ORR. Median OS from the beginning of therapy was 18.5 months (12.7-24.4, 95% CI). IPSS high category [HR 2.24 (1.19-4.20) p=0.01], poor cytogenetics [2.19 (1.27-3.78) p=0.005], and lower ORR [0.46 (0.26-0.80) p=0.006] significantly affected OS. Unexpectedly, a response obtained after less than 4 cycles negatively impact OS [HR 0.86 (0.80-0.92) p Disclosures Reda: Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Research Funding.

Background Allogeneic SCT remains the only curative option in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We prospectively evaluated in a multicenter phase 2 GITMO (Italian Bone Marrow Transplantation Group) trial, the feasibility of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT, primary protocol end-point) after induction treatment with azacitidine (Vidaza, Celgene). According to the protocol, patients had to perform at least 4 and up to 12 cycles of azacitidine as induction treatment before ASCT. Patients not eligible for ASCT could continue treatment until disease progression. Methods Between November 2010 and September 2014, 102 patients were enrolled by 20 Italian hematology centers. Nine patients never started treatment due to progressive disease (PD, n=2), refusal (n=3), or unknown causes (n=4). Of remaining 93 patients, 70 had with IPSS Int-2/High-risk MDS, 15 WHO-defined acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 8 chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). There were 32 females and 61 males with median age 59 yrs (range 21-66.5 yrs). At treatment start, ECOG performance status was: 0 in 66 patients, 1 in 17 and 2 in 10 patients, while MDS HCT-index was: low (0) in 43 patients, intermediate (1-2) in 31 and high (>2) in 18 patients. All 93 patients started azacitidine s.c. at the standard dose of 75 mg/sqm/day, 7 days/month, at a median of 0.8 months (range 0-105 months) from initial MDS diagnosis. Results At response assessment after a median of 4.5 cycles (range 1-11), 25% of patients (n=19) achieved complete remission (CR), 3% marrow-CR (n=2), 14% partial remission (PR, n=11), 9% hematologic improvement (HI, n=7), 35% had stable disease (SD, n=27) and 14% PD (n=11). ASCT was performed in 48 patients (52%), after a median of 4.5 azacitidine cycles (range: 1-11). Data on ASCT are presently available for 45 patients, transplanted with bone marrow (n=10 pts) or peripheral blood stem cells (n=35 pts) from an HLA-identical donor (sibling in 11, and MUD in 34 cases). Forty-five patients did not receive ASCT due to: disease relapse or progression (n=16, 35%), adverse events (n=12, 27%), refusal (n=5, 11%), or other causes (n=12, 27%). At a median follow-up of 18.5 months (range 0.2-31.5), 43 patients are alive (25 received ASCT), and 50 patients died. Causes of death are reported in Table 1. Median overall survival (OS) for the whole patient cohort was 13.4 months (95% CI: 10.9-18.6, Figure 1). Disease status after azacitidine was predictive of significantly improved survival for patients in CR/PR/HI, compared to SD or PD (n=77 patients who completed at least 4 cycles, Figure 2). ASCT considered as time-dependent covariate was associated to a significantly longer survival (p=0.008, HR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8). Stratification of MDS according to IPSS and karyotype was not associated to survival. Conclusions Our study shows that allogeneic transplantation following azacitidine is feasible in HR-MDS/CMML and AML, with about 50% of patients being able to undergo HSCT. These data favourably compare with previous studies in MDS on ASCT preceded by conventional chemotherapy. Disease status at the time of HSCT confirms its significant prognostic role for survival, also in the context of hypomethylating treatment, where stabilization of disease also represents a therapeutic target. Disease relapse or progression remain the major causes of death indicating the need for other strategies aimed at improving disease control in MDS. Figure 1. Overall survival (n=93 pts) Figure 1. Overall survival (n=93 pts) Figure 2. Survival according to disease status at response assessment after a median of 4.5 azacitidine cycles (n=77 evaluable pts) Figure 2. Survival according to disease status at response assessment after a median of 4.5 azacitidine cycles (n=77 evaluable pts) Disclosures Voso: Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Azacitidine used as induction treatment before allogeneic stem cell transplantation in MDS. Finelli:Janssen: Other: Speaker; Novartis: Other: Speaker; Celgene: Other: Speaker, Research Funding.