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Reduced intensity conditionings (RIC) before after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) allow older or unfit patients of being transplanted, but survival expectancy and burden of late complications are poorly described in this setting. All patients (N = 456) who were alive and relapse-free 2 years after HSCT following RIC were included. Cumulative incidences (CI), standardized incidence, or mortality, ratio (SIR or SMR), and competing risk models were used. The 10-year CIs of relapse and non-relapse mortality incidences were 13.9 and 13.4%, respectively. Seventy-eight patients died, late relapse being the most frequent cause of death leading to a SMR of 6.38 (95% CI, 5.1-8.0; p 0.001). Among non-relapsing patients (n = 412), 30 died (SMR 4.38; 95% CI, 3.3-5.8: p 0.001). A total of 37 patients developed 41 SM leading to a 10-year cumulative incidence of 12.9%, and a significant SIR relative to the general population (1.4). Finally, we found high CI of cardiovascular (CVC) and venous thromboembolic complications (VTE) (10-year CI; 15.1% and 11.7%, respectively). Older age was the only significant risk factor for CVC and VTE in multivariable analysis. In conclusion, with life expectancy rate of 70%, late survivors after RIC warrants long-term follow-up and active intervention on averting cardiovascular disease and screening cancers.

The real-world efficacy and safety of gilteritinib was assessed in an ambispective study that included 167 R/R FLT3-mutated AML patients. Among them, 140 received gilteritinib as single agent (cohort B), including 67 previously treated by intensive chemotherapy and midostaurin (cohort C). The main differences in patient characteristics in this study compared to the ADMIRAL trial were ECOG ≥ 2 (83.6% vs. 16.6%), FLT3-TKD mutation (21.0% vs. 8.5%), primary induction failure (15.0% vs. 40.0%) and line of treatment (beyond 2nd in 37.1% vs. 0.0%). The rates of composite complete remission, excluding those that occurred after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), were similar at respectively 25.4% and 27.5% in cohorts B and C. Median overall survival (OS) for these two groups was also similar at respectively 6.4 and 7.8 months. Multivariate analyses for prognostic factors associated with OS identified female gender (HR 1.61), adverse cytogenetic risk (HR 2.52), and allogenic HSCT after gilteritinib (HR 0.13). Although these patients were more heavily pretreated, these real-world data reproduce the results of ADMIRAL and provide new insights into the course of patients previously treated by intensive chemotherapy and midostaurin and beyond the 2nd line of treatment who can benefit from treatment in an outpatient setting.

Tanasi et al present a prospective strategy for identifying patients with Philadelphia-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia, demonstrating the efficacy of early introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in improving outcomes.

International audience; In this randomized phase 3 study, the FILO group tested whether the addition of 6 mg/m(2) of gemtuzumab ozogamycin (GO) to standard chemotherapy could improve outcome of younger patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and intermediate-risk cytogenetics. GO arm was prematurely closed after 254 inclusions because of toxicity. A similar complete remission rate was observed in both arms. Neither event-free survival nor overall survival were improved by GO in younger AML patients (

Background: Results of the phase III QUAZAR trial suggest that post-remission treatment with an oral form (CC-486) of azacitidine (AZA) can prolong CR duration and overall survival(OS) in AML patients reaching at least PR with intensive chemotherapy (IC) (Wei et al, ASH 2019). Maintenance treatment with subcutaneous (SC) AZA was recently shown to improve DFS in elderly AML (Huls et al, Blood 2019, a study that also included 10% MDS). We report very long term results of a study evaluating SC AZA as post-remission treatment in patients with AML post-MDS or high-risk MDS (HR-MDS) who achieved at least PR after IC, a population known to have short responses with IC. Methods: Inclusion criteria were (1) HR-MDS according to IPSS, or AML after a documented phase of MDS(2) who entered CR, CRi or PR after IC with anthracycline and AraC within 28 days of inclusion (3) ECOG Results: From July 2006 to June 2009, 51 pts (M:31/F:20) were included. The 46 evaluable pts had achieved CR (n=28), CRi (n=11), and PR (n=7) before study entry. Median age was 66y (range 55-78). Diagnosis at IC onset was MDS (n=13) and AML (n=33), IPSS cytogenetics was normal (n= 28), intermediate (n=10), high (n= 6), and failed (n=2). Median time from diagnosis of MDS to IC was 8 months (range 0.5-101). Median number of AZA maintenance cycles was 7.5 (1-76) in CR pts (>23 cycles in 5 of them) and 4.5 (1-24) in CRi or PR pts (> 23 cycles in 1). Two patients were allografted and censored at allo SCT. Median follow-up was 16.5 months As of May 2020 (cut off date of analysis) median DFS and OS from response were 6.9 m and 16.9 m, respectively (figure). In CR patients, median and 18 months OS were 18.9 months and 58%, versus 12.8 months and 50% in CRi-PR patients (p=0.33) All non allografted patients eventually relapsed. 7 had a response duration >18 months (6 CR patients: 22, 23, 25, 36, 40, and 84 months; 1 CRi patient: 24 months) OS from inclusion was >3 years in 7 patients (CR pts: 150, 126,74, 51, 50,40 months; CRi pt:58 months), in addition to the 2 allografted pts who remained alive in CR at 156+ and 159+ months No baseline factor including cytogenetics, diagnosis at IC onset (MDS vs AML), % bone marrow blasts, age or time from MDS diagnosis to treatment, significantly predicted DFS or OS. AZA dosing in CR patients was escalated in 9 pts to 75mg/m2/d due to good tolerance but had to be reduced in 6 pts, due to GI toxicity (n=1) and cytopenias (n=5). During SC AZA maintenance, 2/28 CR pts developed febrile neutropenia, compared to 4/18 pts in CRi or PR (including 1 fatal case). In the 22 AML post MDS pts who reached CR, DFS and OS were similar to those observed in 46 AML post AML pts included in a previous ALFA study where pts in CR after IC received DNR/IDA-AraC post-remission therapy (Gardin, Blood 2007). Conclusion: In the very long term analysis of this trial in AML post MDS and HR-MDS treated with induction intensive chemotherapy, post-remission therapy with SC AZA alone was associated with a median DFS and OS of 6.9 and 16.9 months, respectively, with some prolonged response. Results appeared similar to those we had reported with intensive consolidation chemotherapy, but using an ambulatory treatment with limited myelosuppression. Figure Disclosures Braun: Daiichy-Sankyo: Honoraria; Servier: Research Funding. Bouabdallah:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria. Ades:Celgene/BMS: Research Funding; novartis: Research Funding; takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding. Fenaux:Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding.

In spite of CR rates of 75-80% currently achieved with anthracycline-cytarabine regimens in younger patients with favorable and intermediate-risk AML, relapse remains a major issue. The French AML intergroup launched the BIG-1 trial in 2015 in order to test different strategies aiming at reducing relapse rate and improving survival. All patients with previously untreated non-APL and non-CBF AML aged 18-60 years are eligible for trial participation which is still ongoing. The trial design includes several randomizations (R): Idarubicin vs daunorubicin for induction (R1), HDAC vs IDAC for consolidation (R2), post-transplant GVHD prophylaxis modalities (R3). R4 consists of nested randomized phase 2-3 trials testing the addition of new drugs to the IDAC or HDAC backbones during the consolidation phase. The protocol was designed to allow the sequential evaluation of several new agents over the trial period. Vosaroxin (VOS) has shown antileukemic activity (Advani, Clin Cancer Res 2010). The combination of VOS and IDAC showed higher CR rate and a non-significant OS benefit as compared to a placebo-IDAC arm in a large phase 3 trial in patients with refractory/relapsed AML (Ravandi Lancet Oncol 2015). We hypothesized that the addition of VOS to IDAC would improve LFS as compared to IDAC alone when given during the consolidation phase. Methods. Eligibility criteria in the BIG-1 trial include: previously untreated AML according to WHO 2016 classification (AML secondary to an untreated myelodysplastic syndrome allowed), age 18-60, ECOG PS 0-2, no cardiac contra-indication to anthracyclines. Patients with APL and patients with CBF-AML are excluded. Eligibility criteria for R4 randomization were: Patients in first CR/CRp/CRi following 1 or 2 courses of induction chemotherapy according to the BIG-1 protocol; ELN2010 favorable- and intermediate-risk groups; ECOG PS ≤ 3; Absence of severe uncontrolled infection. Patients were scheduled to receive Cytarabine: 1.5 gr/m² twice daily on D1, 3, 5 with or without Vosaroxin: 70 mg/m² on D1 and D4 per cycle for a maximum of three cycles at 4-6 weeks intervals. Patients scheduled for allo-SCT or those who had reached CR after 2 induction cycles were to receive only 2 cycles of VOS-IDAC/IDAC. R4-VOS sub-trial was designed to detect an increase of the 18-month LFS from 55% to 75% using a two-step phase 2-3 study. With type I and II errors set at 20% and using a one-sided test, 70 patients had to be randomized. If the predefined statistical objectives were met, study would resume recruiting 130 additional patients in the phase 3 part for a total of 200 patients. Results. 70 patients (35 in each arm), median age 47, ELN 2010 favorable and intermediate risk groups, have been included. 94% had de novo AML with NPM1 mutations in 46% and FLT3-ITD in 20%. As shown in the Table, patients and disease characteristics were not different between the 2 arms except for slightly more patients in CRi in the VOS-IDAC arm. Patients received a median of 4 chemotherapy cycle (including induction; range 3-4) without difference between the treatment arms. 13 patients (18.5%) received an alloSCT (VOS-IDAC: 5, IDAC: 8). Time between cycle 1 and cycle 2 was significantly longer in the VOS-IDAC arm (p= 0.017). Hematologic toxicity was higher in the VOS-IDAC group with a significantly longer neutropenia duration after each cycle, a greater number of RBC and Platelet transfusions, a significantly greater number of days with antibiotics and antifungal therapies and days with fever (during cycle 1). There were also significantly more cutaneous toxicity, mild nausea/vomiting and diarrhea in the VOS-IDAC arm. With a median follow-up of 19 months, 14 and 15 patients relapse in the VOS-IDAC vs IDAC arms respectively. The study primary endpoint has not been reached and LFS was not significantly higher in the VOS-IDAC arm (18-month LFS of 51% vs 46% for VOS-IDAC vs IDAC respectively; see Figure) even after accounting for allo-SCT as a time-dependent variable (p-value=.49). The 2-year CIR was 51% vs 46% (p=NS) and 2-year OS was 88% vs 68% (p=NS). Conclusion, the study's primary endpoint has not been met and results fail to show a significant improvement of 18-month LFS with the addition of VOS to IDAC consolidation of favorable/intermediate-risk AML in first CR. The phase 3 part of the trial will not open. The BIG-1 trial is still ongoing and uses the same design to tests addition of other drugs to the IDAC/HDAC consolidation backbone. Disclosures Guieze: abbvie: Honoraria, Other: advisory board, travel funds; janssen cilag: Honoraria, Other: advisory board, travel funds; roche: Other: travle funds; gilead: Honoraria, Other: travel funds; astrazanecka: Honoraria, Other: advisory board. Dombret:Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Nova: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Menarini: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Cellectis: Consultancy; Shire-Baxalta: Consultancy; Immunogen: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy. Hunault:Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Diachi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jansen: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

High-dose chemotherapy before autologous transplantation is a therapeutic option as consolidation in primary or relapsed lymphoma. Even if BEAM conditioning is generally used, alternative conditioning regimens have been published. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of 177 adult patients with lymphoma whose conditioning treatment included a BAM (busulfan, aracytine, and melphalan) regimen. With a median follow-up of 17.4 months, 2-year estimates of overall survival and progression-free survival for the entire group were 87% and 70.5%, respectively. Mucositis was the main reported complications and infectious episodes were described in 80.2% of patients. According to multivariate analysis, high performance status and age at diagnosis were adverse factors for survival and increased the risk of disease relapse and death. Despite its limitations, this retrospective study suggests that BAM combination is a valid conditioning regimen in lymphoma patients, with an acceptable rate of toxicity.

PURPOSE: The GRASPALL/GRAALL-SA2-2008 Phase II trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of L-asparaginase encapsulated within erythrocytes (GRASPA®) in patients ≥ 55 years with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia. FINDINGS: Thirty patients received escalating doses of GRASPA® on Day 3 and 6 of induction Phases 1 and 2. The primary efficacy endpoint was asparagine depletion \textless 2 µmol/L for at least 7 days. This was reached in 85 and 71% of patients with 100 and 150 IU/kg respectively but not with 50 IU/kg. Grade 3/4 infection, hypertransaminasemia, hyperbilirubinemia and deep vein thrombosis occurred in 77, 20, 7, and 7% of patients, respectively. No allergic reaction or clinical pancreatitis was observed despite 17% of Grade 3/4 lipase elevation. Anti-asparaginase antibodies were detected in 50% of patients and related to a reduction in the duration of asparagine depletion during induction Phase 2 without decrease of encapsulated L-asparaginase activity. Complete remission rate was 70%. With a median follow-up of 42 months, median overall survival was 15.8 and 9.7 months, in the 100 and 150 IU/kg cohorts respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of GRASPA®, especially at the 100 IU/kg dose level, is feasible in elderly patients without excessive toxicity and associated with durable asparagine depletion. (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01523782)

Maintenance therapy with alternating azacitidine and lenalidomide in elderly fit patients with poor prognosis acute myeloid leukemia: a phase II multicentre FILO trial

International audience; OBJECTIVES: Anthracyclines and cytarabine are cornerstones for intensive chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The goals of this study were to comprehensively assess deviations from theoretical doses and the impact of body-surface area (BSA) on patients' characteristics, physicians' strategy, dose adjustment, and clinical outcome. METHODS: The GOELAMS 2001 phase III trial included 823 AML patients below 60 years of age. In the course of treatment, anthropomorphic parameters and chemotherapy doses were prospectively registered. RESULTS: Very high BSA (≥2.15 m(2) ) was the factor most significantly associated with the physician's decision to reduce chemotherapy doses during induction and postremission therapy. Despite similar AML characteristics and therapeutic strategies, the very high BSA group exhibited a significantly worse survival (5-years OS of 27%) compared to the low (BSA≤1.5 m(2) ), intermediate (1.5 m(2)

Purpose Elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a poor prognosis, and innovative maintenance therapy could improve their outcomes. Androgens, used in the treatment of aplastic anemia, have been reported to block proliferation of and initiate differentiation in AML cells. We report the results of a multicenter, phase III, randomized open-label trial exploring the benefit of adding androgens to maintenance therapy in patients 60 years of age or older. Patients and Methods A total of 330 patients with AML de novo or secondary to chemotherapy or radiotherapy were enrolled in the study. Induction therapy included idarubicin 8 mg/m2 on days 1 to 5, cytarabine 100 mg/m2 on days 1 to 7, and lomustine 200 mg/m2 on day 1. Patients in complete remission or partial remission received six reinduction courses, alternating idarubicin 8 mg/m2 on day 1, cytarabine 100 mg/m2 on days 1 to 5, and a regimen of methotrexate and mercaptopurine. Patients were randomly assigned to receive norethandrolone 10 or 20 mg/day, according to body weight, or no norethandrolone for a 2-year maintenance therapy regimen. The primary end point was disease-free survival by intention to treat. Secondary end points were event-free survival, overall survival, and safety. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00700544. Results Random assignment allotted 165 patients to each arm; arm A received norethandrolone, and arm B did not receive norethandrolone. Complete remission or partial remission was achieved in 247 patients (76%). The Schoenfeld time-dependent model showed that norethandrolone significantly improved survival for patients still in remission at 1 year after induction. In arms A and B, respectively, 5-year disease-free survival was 31.2% and 16.2%, event-free survival was 21.5% and 12.9%, and overall survival was 26.3% and 17.2%. Norethandrolone improved outcomes irrelevant to all prognosis factors. Only patients with baseline leukocytes > 30 × 109/L did not benefit from norethandrolone. Conclusion This study demonstrates that maintenance therapy with norethandrolone significantly improves survival in elderly patients with AML without increasing toxicity.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation provides the best chance of long-term survival for patients with AML, but is associated with an unpredictable risk of treatment-related mortality. From January 2000 to December 2010, we compared the outcomes for patients with AML aged 35 and over using reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC, N=60) or conventional myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimen (N=72) transplantation. The median follow-up was 47 months (10-134). The 4-year cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality was 21%. After adjusting for cytogenetic risk, gender donor/recipient mismatch and CD34+ cells, non-relapse mortality was significantly lower with the RIC regimen (P=0.027). The 4-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 38% and no difference was observed in the adjusted relapse rate between the two groups. The 4-year OS rate was 46%. Using both Cox regression and inverse probability-of-treatment weighted (IPTW) method, a similar OS rate was found with both regimens (adjusted hazard ratios for conventional vs reduced of 1.14 (95% CI 0.67-1.93, P=0.64) with Cox regression, and 1.14 (95% CI 0.55-2.34, P=0.73) with IPTW). Until prospective trials are completed, this study supports the use of a reduced-intensity regimen prior to transplantation for patients with AML aged 35 and over.

The impact of allelic HLA matching in patients with AML and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who receive allogeneic PBSC after a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen is unclear. From January 2000 to December 2010, 108 consecutive patients with AML (n=63) and MDS (n=45) received PBSC after RIC in our center, either from siblings (n=70) or from matched unrelated donors (MUD; 10/10 high resolution, n=38). Conditioning regimen was fludarabine based in 95% of patients and GvHD prophylaxis was mostly cyclosporine plus mycophenolate. Patient characteristics were similar between sibling and MUD for age (median 57 years), gender and disease distribution. Conditioning regimen (more anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) in MUD), donor age (younger for MUD) and number of CD34+ cells infused (higher in MUD) were different. The median follow-up was 36 months (range 2-72). Engraftment, GvHD, TRM, relapse rate and OS at 3 years were comparable between sibling and MUD. After adjustment for age, cytogenetic risk, ATG and number of CD34+ cells infused, donor type still did not influence OS. In patients with AML or MDS, HSCT from MUD using PBSC after a RIC regimen led to similar outcomes than from Siblings.

The outcome of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph− ALL) relapsing after pediatric-inspired front-line therapy is ill known. Here 229 relapsing Ph− ALL younger adults (18–63 years) treated within the Group for Research on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GRAALL)-2003/-2005 trials were considered. Salvage regimens consisted of potentially curative therapies in 194 cases, low-intensity therapies in 21, allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) in 6 and best supportive care in 8. Overall, 77 patients received allo-SCT after relapse. The median follow-up was 3.1 years. A second complete remission (CR2) was achieved in 121 patients (53%). In multivariate analysis, only younger age P=0.008) and CR1 duration ⩾18 months (P=0.009) predicted CR2. Overall survival (OS) at 2 and 5 years was 19.3% (14–24%) and 13.3% (8–18%), respectively. In CR2 patients, disease-free survival (DFS) at 2 and 5 years was 29.0% (21–38%) and 25% (17–33%). In multivariate analysis, CR1 duration ⩾18 months and allo-SCT after relapse were associated with longer DFS (PP=0.004, respectively) and longer OS (P=0.004 and P

Nous presentons un cas de candidose disseminee a une levure rare : Candida palmioleophila , chez une patiente immunodeprimee. C. palmioleophila est un champignon emergent responsable de candidemies nosocomiales. L’identification de cette espece est importante car elle presente un profil de resistance particulier. Il s’agit d’une patiente âgee de 70 ans atteinte de leucemie aigue promyelocytaire, hospitalisee pour chimiotherapie de consolidation (idarubicine/aracytine APL 2006). A j3 d’aplasie, elle presente un episode d’hyperthermie et de diarrhees. Les hemocultures ainsi que les cultures mycologiques de selles et d’urines sont positives a Candida sp . Sur les geloses CAN2 ® (bioMerieux), les colonies apparaissent bleu turquoise. Un traitement empirique par caspofungine est debute. A j7 d’aplasie, la patiente presente une eruption cutanee. L’examen myologique d’une biopsie cutanee met en evidence la presence de blastospores bourgeonnantes. En raison de la persistance de l’hyperthermie, la caspofungine est remplacee tout d’abord par du voriconazole puis par de l’amphotericine B liposomale, ce qui permet l’obtention en 24 h de l’apyrexie avec amelioration clinique. Au moment de la survenue de ce cas, la spectrometrie de masse MALDI-TOF n’etait pas disponible au laboratoire. L’identification de la levure n’a alors pas pu etre obtenue par auxanogramme (galerie API 32C ® , bioMerieux). Le sequencage moleculaire des regions ITS et D1/D2 (CNRMA, Institut Pasteur) a permis d’identifier C. palmioleophila . Ce n’est que retrospectivement que la levure a ete identifiee par spectrometrie MALDI-TOF (Biotyper ® Bruker Daltonics). La souche presentait par E-test ® (bioMerieux) une CMI elevee au fluconazole (> 256 μg/mL) mais etait sensible a la caspofungine (0,094 μg/mL) et a l’amphotericine B (0,38 μg/mL). C. palmioleophila est une levure emergente, tres souvent confondue avec C. famata ou C. guilliermondii avant que l’on ne dispose de la spectrometrie de masse MALDI-TOF. Grâce a cette technique les especes rares de levures pathogenes peuvent desormais etre facilement et rapidement identifiees. C. palmioleophila est naturellement hautement resistant au fluconazole mais presente des valeurs de CMI basses pour les echinocandines. Il serait important de disposer de correlations entre les donnees in vitro et l’efficacite clinique des traitements antifongiques.

Background. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are standard front-line therapy for patients with BCR-ABL1/Philadelphia positive ALL (Ph+ ALL), but the relative merits of available TKIs remain uncertain. Nilotinib is a potent inhibitor of BCR-ABL1 with broader activity against ABL kinase domain mutations than imatinib and greater selectivity than dasatinib or ponatinib. As there is a paucity of data on nilotinib as first-line therapy for Ph+ ALL, the EWALL (European Working Group for Adult ALL) conducted an international clinical trial to evaluate efficacy and safety of the combination of nilotinib with low intensity chemotherapy. Patients and Methods. After a prephase with dexamethasone (DEX) and cyclophosphamide, nilotinib (400 mg BID) was given concurrently with the same chemotherapy backbone employed in the EWALL-PH01 assessing the combination with dasatinib (Rousselot et al, Blood 2016;128:774-82). Induction consisted of nilotinib combined with weekly vincristine (VCR, 1mg iv) and oral dexamethasone 40mg 2 days (20 mg over 70y). Nilotinib was continued throughout six consolidation cycles, followed by 24 months maintenance therapy with nilotinib, 6-MP, MTX and DEX/VCR boosts. Stem cell transplantation (SCT) was permitted as considered appropriate. BCR-ABL1 RTQ-PCR and kinase domain resistance mutations were centrally monitored. Primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS) at 12 months, secondary endpoints included rates of CR, major and complete molecular response, relapse free survival (RFS), EFS and overall survival (OS). Results. 72/79 enrolled pts. were evaluable for response, 3 withdrew consent, 4 did not meet eligibility criteria. Median age was 65.5 (55-85) years, male/female ratio 0.85, ECOG status 0 or 1 in 89% of pts., median CIRS comorbidity score 5(0-19). Baseline vascular risk factors including high blood pressure (grade ≥2) were present in 36% of pts.. Sixty-eight of 72 pts. (94.4%) achieved CR, one died during induction and one was refractory, 2 pts. discontinued study therapy. Non-hematologic adverse events (AE) grades 3/4 during induction (in ≥ 5% of pts. irrespective of causality) included infections (n=20), elevated transaminases or bilirubin (n=18) and gastrointestinal AEs (n=12). The spectrum of AEs was similar during consolidation, without concerns related to cardiovascular events. 24 pts. (61y; 55-69y) underwent allogeneic (9 MUD, 12 SIB, 3 Haplo) and 3 autologous SCT. 21 pts. received reduced intensity conditioning (including 8Gy TBI, n=11) regimens. Among all pts., relapse was the main cause of treatment failure (n=23; 17 BM, 2 CNS, 3 other sites, 1 na), 11 pts. died in CR (6 after HSCT), 34 are in ongoing CR. Based on Kaplan Meier analysis, EFS (events being resistant disease, relapse or death) at 12 months was 74%, with median follow-up of 39 (24-66) months for surviving pts., EFS and OS at 4 years was 42%, and 47%, respectively. By landmark analyses using median time to HSCT as cutoff, cumulative incidence of relapse in transplanted vs. non-transplanted pts. was 32% and 47%, OS at 4 years was 61% and 39%, median OS was not reached versus 3.6 years, respectively (p=ns). The proportion of pts. with a BCR-ABL1/ABL1 ratio ≤0.1% increased from 41% after induction to 86% after consolidation 2; that of pts. with undetectable or non-quantifiable BCR-ABL1 transcripts (sensitivity ≥10-4) increased from 14% to 58%. Conclusions. Nilotinib combined with low-intensity chemotherapy is well tolerated and highly effective in elderly pts. with Ph-positive ALL. OS and EFS compare favorably with previous similar studies testing imatinib or dasatinib. With 32% of pts. undergoing allogeneic HSCT and 61% survival at 4 years, transplantation is a viable option in this elderly cohort of pts.. Disclosures Ottmann: Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Fusion Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding. Pfeifer:Novartis: Research Funding. Cayuela:Cepheid: Other: financial sponsor to attend John Goldman Conference 2017. Viardot:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy; Gilead Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria. Sanhes:Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Goekbuget:Pfizer: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Kite / Gilead: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding. Dombret:Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria; Menarini: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ambit (Daiichi Sankyo): Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ariad (Incyte): Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Shire-Baxalta: Consultancy, Honoraria; Immunogen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Tandem versus single autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation as post-remission therapy in adult acute myeloid leukemia patients under 60 in first complete remission: results of the multicenter prospective phase III GOELAMS LAM-2001 trial

Background and Objectives T-lymphoblastic lymphoma is an infrequent disease usually treated as T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia with an induction chemotherapy course and sequential reinduction and maintenance chemotherapy. The T-LBL/ALL-GOELAL02 study evaluated the impact of randomized reinduction chemotherapy against intensified conditioning followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), after an induction regimen of the type used for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Design and Methods Patients with favorable characteristics were randomized to receive chemotherapy or ASCT. Patients with unfavorable characteristics (bone marrow involvement and age over 35 years old or leukocytosis >30 × 109/L or failure to achieve medullar complete remission [CR] after one induction course) received a second induction course and ASCT.Results Among 45 patients, the CR rate was 71% after induction and 87% after a second induction course. Within the group of 27 patients with favorable characteristics, ten received ASCT and 17 chemotherapy. Ten patients in the group with unfavorable characteristics received ASCT. The 7-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 64 and 65%, respectively. Surprisingly, CR obtained after only two induction courses was associated with improved overall survival (p=0.04). None of the known prognostic factors significantly affected survival.Interpretation and Conclusions Randomized maintenance or high-dose therapy (HDT) and ASCT or intensified HDT according to initial presentation gave similar overall and relapse-free survival rates. However, HDT allowed sparing of mediastinal irradiation and shortened treatment duration.

International audience; Core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia is a favorable acute myeloid leukemia subset cytogenetically defined by t(8;21) or inv(16)/t(16;16) rearrangements, disrupting RUNX1 (previously CBFA/AML1) or CBFB transcription factor functions. The receptor tyrosine kinase KIT is expressed in the vast majority of these acute myeloid leukemias and frequent activating KIT gene mutations have been associated with a higher risk of relapse. This phase II study aimed to evaluate dasatinib as maintenance therapy in patients with core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia in first hematologic complete remission, but at higher risk of relapse due to molecular disease persistence or recurrence. A total of 26 patients aged 18-60 years old previously included in the CBF-2006 trial were eligible to receive dasatinib 140 mg daily if they had a poor initial molecular response (n=18) or a molecular recurrence (n=8). The tolerance of dasatinib as maintenance therapy was satisfactory. The 2-year disease-free survival in this high-risk population of patients was 25.7%. All but one patient with molecular recurrence presented subsequent hematologic relapse. Patients with slow initial molecular response had a similar disease-free survival when treated with dasatinib (40.2% at 2 years) or without any maintenance (50.0% at 2 years). The disappearance of KIT gene mutations at relapse suggests that clonal devolution may in part explain the absence of efficacy observed with single-agent dasatinib in these patients (n. EudraCT: 2006-006555-12).

To evaluate the short and long-term effects of anthracycline chemotherapy in adults using conventional echocardiography and pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).Twenty patients were included of which 16 had a complete follow up. They underwent an echocardiography before chemotherapy, 1-3 months and 3.5+/-0.6 years after the treatment. We recorded pulsed TDI at the mitral annulus, the basal segments of the left ventricular (LV) lateral and posterior walls; peak velocities in systole (Sm), early (Em) and late diastole and the isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were measured. The cumulative dose of doxorubicin was 211+/-82 g/m2. Early after anthracycline therapy, we observed changes in the diastolic LV function with a decrease of the mitral E peak velocity and TDI Em. At the late control, diastolic changes were more pronounced and associated with an alteration of the systolic function (LV ejection fraction and Sm). Four patients had a LV ejection fraction50%; in these patients we observed a mitral annulus IVRT80 ms at the early control; this could be of interest to predict later impairment of the LV ejection fraction.We found early changes in LV diastolic function and observed that late impairment of the LV ejection fraction occurred frequently after anthracycline therapy, despite normal systolic LV function during the first months of follow-up.

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) is a clinical syndrome occurring as a complication after cytotoxic and/or radiation therapy. The incidence of t-AML after acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), all-transretinoic acid (ATRA), and anthracycline-based therapy is rather low. However, because of the high remission rates and long-term overall survival achieved with current APL treatments, late complications related to antileukemic therapy should be taken into account, giving priority to efficacy agents with the lowest potential of leukemogenesis, despite individual genetic susceptibilities that are not well known. Here, we report two cases of t-AML observed in two young women who achieved a rapid, complete molecular remission (CMR) of APL and who were still in CMR when t-AML was diagnosed. These t-AMLs shared some clinical and biological features such as poor-risk cytogenetics and a rapidly progressing, unfavorable outcome. Retrospective RT-PCR WT1 expression from the onset of APL to t-AML diagnosis did not prove to be a good marker for t-AML development.

The choice of postremission therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients is now based on the blasts' cytogenetic and molecular profile. However, the potential benefit of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) according to the NPM1/FLT3-ITD status has been poorly studied in AML patients with a normal karyotype (NK). Therefore, we evaluated the NPM1/FLT3-ITD molecular status in 135 NK-AML patients treated by allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT), auto-HSCT, or chemotherapy as consolidation therapy within the GOELAMS LAM-2001 trial. In univariate analyzes, 4-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly higher for NPM1+/FLT3-ITD- patients compared with patients presenting another molecular profile (61 vs. 43% and 72 vs. 48%, P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively). In the NPM1+/FLT3-ITD- subgroup, there was no benefit for allo-HSCT or auto-HSCT vs. chemotherapy (4-year LFS: 71, 56, and 60%; 4-year OS: 73, 71, and 60%, respectively; P = NS). For patients with other NPM1/FLT3-ITD molecular profiles, allo-HSCT was found to be the best consolidation therapy, whereas auto-HSCT was associated with a better outcome when compared with chemotherapy (allo-HSCT-, auto-HSCT-, and chemotherapy-related 4-year LFS: 68, 44, and 36%, P = 0.004; 4-year OS: 68, 52, and 29%, respectively, P = 0.02). Our study indicates that allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT provide similar outcomes compared with chemotherapy as consolidation for NPM1+/FLT3-ITD- NK-AML patients. For NK-AML patients with an adverse molecular profile, auto-HSCT could represent an alternative therapeutic approach when no human leukocyte antigen-matched allogeneic donor is available.

Purpose No significant improvement in treatment outcome has been seen in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over the past 20 years. This retrospective analysis investigated the prognostic factors for complete remission (CR) and survival in older patients with AML. Patients and Methods The study involved 847 patients older than 60 years enrolled onto three trials carried out in France between 1995 and 2005. Induction therapy consisted of idarubicin (8 mg/m2, days 1 through 5) and cytarabine (100 mg/m2, days 1 through 7; group I, 339 patients) or the same drugs plus lomustine (200 mg/m2 orally on day 1; group II, 508 patients). Consolidation therapy consisted of anthracycline and cytarabine courses at lower doses, preceded or not by a first course of intermediate-dose cytarabine. Results The rate of CR was significantly higher in patients in group II compared with group I (68% v 58%; P = .002). The rate of toxic death was similar in the two groups. In multivariate analysis, two prognostic factors were linked to CR: nonadverse cytogenetic (P < .003) and addition of lomustine to induction chemotherapy (P = .002). Median overall survival was significantly improved in patients treated with lomustine (median and SE, 12.7 ± 2.2 months v 8.7 ± 2.7 months; P = .004). In multivariate analysis, five prognostic factors positively affected overall survival: addition of lomustine (P = .002), age ≤ 69 years (P < .001), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status lower than 2 (P = .002), French-American-British subgroup 1/2 (P = .02), and nonadverse cytogenetic (P < .001). Conclusion Lomustine improves the rate of CR and survival in elderly patients with de novo AML when added to standard induction therapy.

10–20% of APL patients relapse and the challenge remains to early identify these patients to improve survival rate. We report PML-RARα transcript detection by RQ-PCR in 260 consecutive APL patients ( n = 970 samples). 223 patients with samples of sufficient RNA quality to demonstrate they reached molecular remission were monitored for MRD. During follow-up, 38 of these patients were tested positive for PML-RARα mRNA. 13 out of the 38 patients (34%) effectively developed hematological relapse. In the first positive sample, specific PML-RARα NCN thresholds over which, or under which, patients could effectively be predicted to relapse or not, were identified and subsequently validated in a second cohort.

In elderly pts, the prognosis of AML associated with poor risk cytogenetics or secondary to either MDS or previous cancer is so bad that only supportive care or investigational studies are usually recommended. Fit patients may achieve CR after conventional induction, but early relapse appears to be nearly inescapable whatever classical consolidation or maintenance therapy is used. Therefore, the GOELAMS investigated the impact of a maintenance using two agents mainly used in MDS, ie AZA and Len. Between March 2011 and February 2013, 117 pts from 27 centers (median age 69 yrs; 60-80) with previously untreated poor prognosis AML were included. Poor Risk factors were either preceding MDS (n=52), previous cancer (n=37) or centrally reviewed (IL) poor risk cytogenetics (n=83) defined as complex karyotype (≥3 abnormalities, n=65), monosomal karyotypes (n=54), del or - 5 (n=61) or 7 (n=44), 3q abnormality (n=9) or MLL rearrangement except for t(9;11) (n=5). Median WBC was 2.9 G/L (0.5-160), 7 pts had WBC ≥ 30 G/L. Induction chemotherapy included Lomustine 200 mg/m² po d1, Idarubicine 8 mg/m²/d (d1-5), Cytarabine 100mg/m²/d CI (d1-7). Patients in CR received 12 maintenance cycles alternating every 28 days AZA (sc 75 mg/m²/d1-7) and Len (10mg/d1-21), which started if PMN and platelets were >1 G/L and 100 G/L respectively. After d42, subsequent cycles were reduced to 50 mg/m²/d and 5 mg/d. GCSF was allowed in case of PMN < 0.5 G/L after 7 days or febrile neutropenia. At the end of induction, CR was achieved in 56% (65 pts) without any predictive factor, 9% died from infection (n=6), cerebral hemorrhage (n=1) or MOF (n=4) and 35% (41pts including 5 CRp) failed to achieve CR. The 12 planned maintenance courses could be given to 21 pts (32%) (median: 6). Few toxicities were observed. AZA courses were slightly more toxic than Len courses (table 1). Table 1.AZA courses %Len courses %Gr 3/4 neutropenia46.8/ 27.339.7 /17.6Antibiotics for fever at home6.97Hospitalization for febrile neutropenia0.52.7RBC transfusions55.4Gr 3 Thrombopenia2016Platelets transfusion8.67.9Interval between courses > 35 days26.118.4Median time interval between courses31 d28 dCourses with doses reductions9.621.6 Maintenance courses were interrupted because of relapse (n= 34, 77%), alloSCT (n=4 %), count error (n=1 %) or toxicities (n =5, 11%) occurring after Len (depression, vascular purpura and pseudomembranous diarrhea, sudden death, all during cycle 1) or after Aza (atrial fibrillation and cardiac dysfunction). Twenty Gr3/4 AE were reported among 441 cycles (0.56%/courses). Median follow-up for survivors was 38 mo (26-47). Median OS was 10 mo, with 21% 2y OS. Median CR duration was 7 mo (1-30). Impact of prognostic factors on DFS is shown table 2. Within poor risk factors, Cytogenetic abnormalities appeared as even poorer than previous MDS or cancer. Table 2.CR %CR NDFS median moP VALUE1y DFS %2y DFS %All patients56657.941.512.3Age ≥ 7058.3288.6 vs 7.746.417.9WBC ≥ 3.3 G/L48.1267.0 vs12.423.111.5Previous MDS51.92713.8 vs 6.4.0551.922.2MDS only68.41316.8 vs 6.4.00869.230.8Previous cancer54207.5 vs 7.9355Cancer only80812.4 vs 7.755012.5Poor cytogenetic53445.1 vs 15.3.0429.56.8Complex caryotype49.2324.8 vs 12.9.012259.4Monosomal caryotype50274.6 vs 12.9.00218.57.4Chromosome 5 abnormality52.5325 vs 13.8.00218.86.3Chromosome 7 abnormality54.5243.6 vs 12.00120.84.23q55.6510.4 vs 7.740017p deletion48.5165.0 vs 10.52512.5MLL8043.4 vs 8.4250poor cytogenetic + MDS42.997.7 vs 7.944.422poor cytogenetic + cancer46.774.8 vs 7.928.90poor cytogenetic + cancer + MDS71.453.4 vs 8.4200cancer + MDS00---Poor cytogenetic only rev aza57.5236.3 vs 12.9.05521.74.3Poor cytogenetic only SA255436.430.220.9 In the previous GOELAMS SA2 trial, 78 pts with poor risk cytogenetics without secondary leukemia received the same LIA induction followed in CR by maintenance therapy with 6 mini-reinductions (Ida 10mg/m² d1, cytarabine 50 mg/m²x2/d d1-5) and 6MP-MTX for 2years. In the present study, the DFS of the group of pts with poor risk cytogenetics without previous cancer or MDS is very similar. This alternating azacitidine/lenalidomide maintenance improved DFS and OS of pts without poor risk cytogenetics (median 15.7 and 24 mo). In this setting, it could be randomly compared to conventional chemotherapy maintenance. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

In non-randomized studies, thalidomide appeared to be effective in myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis (MMM). We compared thalidomide to placebo for treatment of anemia in MMM.A prospective phase II B, randomized double-blind multicenter trial comparing thalidomide 400 mg/d with placebo for 180 days was conducted in 52 anemic patients (hemoglobin pounds Sterling 9 g/dL or transfused). The main outcome measure was a 2 g/L increase in hemoglobin or 20% reduction in transfusions.In the thalidomide group only 10 patients completed 6 months of treatment. At 180 days, in an intention-to-treat analysis, no difference was observed between the thalidomide and placebo groups as regards improvement of hemoglobin levels (one patient in each group) or reduction of red blood cell transfusions (three vs five patients, respectively). The spleen size, determined by ultrasonography, increased significantly less in the thalidomide group than in the placebo group (p0.05). Thalidomide had no apparent benefit on the Dupriez score, the severity score, survival, death, or any other clinical or biological parameter. Somnolence, gastro-intestinal signs, weight gain, and edema were significantly more frequent in the thalidomide group. Outpatient discontinuation of thalidomide was significantly correlated with a high severity score4 (odds ratio, OR = 16; p0.01), and g-glutamyl transferase levels40 IU/L (OR = 12; p0.05).Thalidomide (200-400 mg/d) does not demonstrate substantial efficacy in anemic MMM patients. The natural history of disease in the placebo group revealed spontaneous periods of remission of anemia. Tolerance of thalidomide was significantly correlated wih the severity and liver involvement of the disease.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway has been shown to be frequently activated in blast cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to contribute to survival and proliferation of these cells. Of the 8 distinct mammalian isoforms of PI3K, it is the class I PI3Ks (p110alpha, p110beta, p110gamma, and p110delta) that are responsible for Akt activation. It is not known which PI3K isoform is critical in AML. Here we show that the p110delta isoform of PI3K is consistently expressed at a high level in blast cells from AML, in contrast to the other class I isoforms, the expression of which was very variable among patients. IC87114, a p110delta-selective inhibitor, suppressed both constitutive and Flt-3-stimulated Akt activation in blasts to the same extent as Ly294002, an inhibitor of all PI3K isoforms. Moreover, IC87114 inhibited AML cell proliferation without affecting the proliferation of normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. These observations identify p110delta as a potential therapeutic target in AML.

Purpose: Pediatric-like protocols have yielded significant advances in younger adults with Ph-negative ALL. Nonetheless, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was still estimated at 32% in the GRAALL-2003/2005 trials, approximately 25% of the relapses occurring after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). We report here on the outcome of these relapsing patients. Patients and Methods: Among 880 GRAALL-2003/2005 patients(18-60 years) with Ph-negative ALL in first complete remission (CR1), 264 relapsed. Data were available for 229 of them (151 B-cell precursor [BCP] ALL, 78 T-ALL; 45 standard-risk, 165 high-risk, and 19 unclassified ALL according to the risk classification used in these trials). Relapse site was bone marrow (BM), isolated CNS, combined BM/CNS and other in 181, 20, 17 and 11 patients, respectively. At relapse, median age was 35.7 years (range, 17-63). Median CR1 duration was 10 months (range, 0.5-74), 50 patients (22%) having CR1 > 18 months. Fifty-four patients (24%) had received allogeneic SCT during CR1. First salvage treatments were classified as follows: standard curative therapy, 194 (85%); low-intensity therapy, 21 (9%); allogeneic SCT, 6 (2.5%); and best supportive care (BSC), 8 (3.5%). Post-relapse allogeneic SCT was analyzed as a time-dependent event using Mantel-Byar estimations. Results: A total of 121 patients (53%) achieved CR2, including 100/194 patients after standard salvage, 7/21 patients after low-intensity salvage, and 14 patients after SCT (6 as first salvage, 8 as subsequent salvage after standard salvage failure). Thus, 107/215 patients (50%) treated with standard or low-intensity first salvage achieved CR2 and in multivariable analysis (including age, ALL lineage, ALL risk classification, CR1 duration, prior SCT, relapse site and salvage type), a younger age and a longer CR1 duration were associated with CR2 achievement in these patients. Of note, few patients with t(4;11) BCP-ALL reached CR2 (19%). A total of 77 patients received allogeneic SCT after relapse, including 55 patients in CR2 after standard salvage (52 in CR2 at SCT time), 4 patients in CR2 after low-intensity salvage (all in CR2 at SCT time), the 6 patients transplanted as first salvage (all reaching CR2), and 12 patients transplanted as subsequent salvage (8 reaching CR2). The median time between relapse and SCT was 111 days (range, 5-311). With a median post-relapse follow-up of 3.1 years, post-relapse overall survival (OS) was 19.3% (14-25%) at 2 years and 13.3% (9-19%) at 5 years (median OS, 6.7 months). In landmark analysis, OS was significantly longer in patients who achieved CR2 (HR, 0.19; p 18 months (HR, 0.43; p 18 months and SCT after relapse were associated with longer OS (HR, 0.49 and 0.39; p=0.001 and 18 months and SCT after relapse were the two factors that independently predicted longer DFS (HR, 0.36 and 0.44; p=0.001 and 0.003) and OS (HR, 0.39 and 0.57; p=0.004 and 0.043, respectively) in these patients. Conclusion: Adult patients relapsing after current ALL therapies still retain apoor outcome. Although a minority of them may be cured, especially if CR1 duration exceeds 18 months and if they may receive allogeneic SCT in CR2, new therapies are definitely needed for these patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The prognosis of poor risk AML in elderly pts justifies either supportive care only or investigational studies without obvious benefit of post-remission chemotherapies. A phase I study has demonstrated that the combination of azacitidine and lenalidomide is well-tolerated in AML with efficacy superior to that of single-agent therapy in higher-risk MDS (Sekeres JCO2010). The GOELAMS group investigated the efficacy of 12 maintenance cycles alternating monthly azacitidine (sc 75 mg/m²/d1-7) and lenalidomide (10mg/d1-21) every 28 days for pts in CR and compared the results to previous SA2002 and BGMT95 prospective trials which shared the same LIA induction followed by chemotherapy-based maintenance. Between 3/2011 and 2/2013, 117 pts from 27 centers (median age 69 yrs; 60-80, 9 pts ≥ 75) with previously untreated poor prognosis AML were included. Risk factors allowing inclusion were either: i) centrally reviewed (IL) poor risk cytogenetics (n=83) defined as complex karyotype (≥3 abnormalities), monosomal karyotype, t(6;9), del or – 5 or 7, and EVI1 or MLL rearrangement except for t(9;11); ii) preceding MDS (n=52) or iii) secondary leukemia occurring after previous cancer (n=37). Median WBC was 2.9 G/L (0.5-160), 19 pts had WBC > 30 G/L. Induction chemotherapy included lomustine 200 mg/m² po d1, Idarabucine 8 mg/m²/d (d1-5), cytarabine 100mg/m²/d CI (d1-7) and G-CSF (d15 to recovery). At the end of induction, CR (excluding CRp) was achieved in 56% (65 pts), 9% died from infection (n=6), cerebral hemorrhage (n=1) or multiorgan failure (n=4) and 35% (41pts) failed to achieve CR. Despite a trend towards a higher CR rate in pts without previous MDS (59% vs 48% CR), CR was not related to any of the risk factors studied. Median follow-up for survivors is 16 months (3-25). Monthly alternating azacitidine-lenalidomide maintenance therapy was started in 65 pts. Except for 1 pt who died during cycle1 of lenalidomide without any obvious explanation, tolerance was good. Median nadir of neutrophils and platelets was 1 and 96 G/L respectively. Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 6% of cycles and were due to infection, haemorrhage, hepatitis or fatigue (3%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.5% of cycles respectively). Median CR duration was 4.5 mo (1-23) and 40 pts relapsed. Allogeneic SCT with non myelo-ablative preparative regimen was performed in 4 pts less than 70 years in CR1: 1 is alive in relapse, 2 died of GVH and 1 is in continuous CR. Pts achieving CR had a median OS of 13 mo (95% CI 7.3-18.6), 54% being alive at 1 year and 15% at 2y. In refractory pts, the median OS was 7 mo (95% CI 2.8-11.2) with 32% alive at 1 year (P = 0.0001). OS and DFS reported in the current trial and compared to historical controls are described below: induction results are similar to those observed in the 128 poor risk cytogenetic pts of the previous SA2002/BGMT trials treated with the same LIA induction (CR 58%, early death 15%, failure 27%) but who received maintenance therapy with 6 mini-reinductions (Ida 10mg/m² d1, cytarabine 50 mg/m²x2/d d1-5) and 6MP-MTX for 2years. No significant survival benefit was observed compared to pts with poor risk cytogenetics treated with chemotherapy maintenance in our previous trials. However, pts included in this trial have probably an even worse prognostic than those included in the GOELAMSSA2/BGMT95 trial which excluded AML secondary to MDS and previous cancers. This type of alternating azacitidine/lenalidomide maintenance improves OS and DFS of pts without poor risk cytogenetics (median DFS not reached and 19 mo) and could be randomly compared with conventional chemotherapy maintenance in AML secondary to MDS or cancer but also in older pts with intermediate risk cytogenetics.Median (95% CI)6mo1y2yOS maintenance aza-rev (117)9 mo (7.5-10.5)70%41%17%OS 2002/BGMT95 (128)6 mo (4.1-7.8)54%32%21%DFS maintenance aza-Rev (65)10 mo (2.5-17.4)61%49%8%DFS 2002/BGMT95 (74)9 mo (6.0-11.9)63%43%26%OS poor risk cytogenetic (83) vs other (33)8 mo vs NR P=0.000162% vs 83%27% vs 70%10% vs 60%OS previous cancer (37) vs no cancer (80)9 mo vs 9 mo68% vs 73%44% vs 40%24% vs 17%OS previous MDS (52) vs no MDS(64)12 mo vs 7 mo P=0.00177% vs 65%58% vs 26%27% vs 12%DFS poor risk cytogenetic (44) vs other (20)6 mo vs 19 mo P=0.00748% vs 84%33% vs 67%11% vs 28%DFS previous cancer (20) vs no K(45)8 mo vs 8 mo80% vs 61%46% vs 47%0% vs 13%DFS previous MDS (27) vs no MDS(38)15 mo vs 6 mo, P=0.0874% vs 48%59% vs 32%12% vs 0% Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 1473 Introduction: L-asparaginase-loaded red blood cells (GRASPA®) has been shown to be a new available option for combining L-asparaginase with standard chemotherapy in different ALL population, including older patients with the disease. Tolerability and preliminary results of efficacy of GRASPA® in GRASPALL/GRAALL-SA2–2008 study have already been presented. We report below the 2-year follow-up efficacy results of this study. Methods: GRASPALL/GRAALL-SA2–2008 study aimed at determining optimal dose of GRASPA® that could be combined with standard EWALL chemotherapy backbone in patients aged >55y with newly diagnosed Ph-ALL. It was an open label Phase II dose escalation study. Primary endpoint combined tolerance and efficacy (asparagine depletion ≥7 days). Three doses of L-Asparaginase-Loaded Red Blood Cells (50, 100 and 150 IU/kg), infused twice during induction cycles, were investigated. EWALL backbone consisted of dexamethasone prephase followed by induction-1 (dexamethasone d1–2/8–11, vincristine d1,8, and idarubicine d1–2/8–9) and induction-2 (cyclophosphamide d15–17 and cytarabine d16–19/23–26). Consolidation consisted of 6 monthly alternating cycles with methotrexate (d1) / E.coli asparaginase (d2) and high-dose cytarabine (d1, 3, 5). Maintenance included mercaptopurine, methotrexate and vincristine/dexamethasone pulses for 2 years. Hematological and molecular Ig/TCR minimal residual disease (MRD) response rates, survival were secondary endpoints. Results: Between March 2009 and October 2010, 30 patients were recruited in 20 centres in France by the GRAALL network. The 50, 100 and 150 dose levels included 3, 13 and 14 patients, respectively. Median age was 67 years (range 59–77). No differences in baseline characteristics were observed across the 3 dose level groups. The tolerability with L-Asparaginase-related side effects is reported below: GRASPA Dose (IU/kg) 50 100 150 Number patients/group 3 13 14 Allergic reaction 0 0 0 Clinical thrombosis 1 (33%) 1 (8%) 2 (14%) Antithrombin III decrease 2 (67%) 7 (54%) 12 (86%) Other Coagulation disorder 2 (67%) 3 (23%) 11 (79%) Clinical pancreatitis 0 0 0 Pancreatic enzymes increased >2N 1 (33%) 5 (38%) 5 (36%) Protein synthesis dicrease (hypoalbuminemia 1 (33%) 1 (8%) 6 (43%) Transaminases increase >5N 2 (67%) 4 (31%) 6 (43%) Overall L-asp expected adverse events tended to be lower in the 100 UI/kg group. Regarding the efficacy and benefit/risk, asparagines depletion, remission rate, EFS and OS are reported below: Dose level N Pts with at least 7 days depletion N (%) Patients with DLT N (%) Pts with at least 7 days depletion and no DLT N (%) Remission After Induction CR EFS OS Median 1 year 2 years Median 1 year 2 years 100 IU/Kg 13 11 (85%) 2 (15%) 9 (69%) 10 (77%) 11.8 mo 46% 23% 15.6 mo 62% 23% 150 IU/Kg 14 10 (71%) 5 (36%) 7 (50%) 9 (64%) 4.0 mo 33% – 9.5 mo 43% – Three patients received the dose of 50 UI/kg but this dose was insufficient to reach a 7-day asparagine depletion. Survival analysis showed that the dose of 100IU/kg was associated with median OS of 15.6 months an absolute value that compared favorably with historical controls: 8,8 mo (Rousselot et al. Drugs Aging,2011) and 10,5 mo (Hunault et al. Haematologica,2011) Conclusion: GRASPA® at a dose of 100 UI/kg appears to be a safe and active manner to introduce L-asparaginase during initial induction chemotherapy of older patients with Ph- ALL with a sustained asparagine depletion and a good efficacy/safety profile. Disclosures: Godfrin: ERYTECH Pharma: COO Other.

Abstract 3103 Introduction: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) provides the best chance of long-term survival for patients with intermediate or high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The major limitation of this procedure is the risk of treatment related mortality (TRM). Use of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen has become standard practice among older candidates with comorbidities. Although RIC regimen have been used for over a decade in older patients, the benefit of this approach in younger patients with AML compared with the risk of toxicity of standard regimen (MAC) is still discussed. We compared the outcomes for patients with AML over 35 years using RIC or MAC HSCT. Patients, methods, and transplantation characteristics: From January 2000 to December 2010, 132 consecutive patients older than 35 years with AML (18 secondary AML) received HSCT in our center, either from siblings (n=87) or HLA 10/10 allele-matched donors (n=45). MAC (n=72) and RIC (n=60) regimens were defined as previously described (Bacigalupo, 2009). Seventy-three patients were in first complete remission (CR1); 30% of patients had poor risk cytogenetics (MRC classification). Karnofsky performance status was scored at time of HSCT. Engraftment, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), transplantation-related mortality (TRM), relapse rate as well as overall survival (OS) at 4 years were compared according to the intensity of the conditioning regimen. First a classical multivariable Cox analysis was conducted. In a second step, baseline confounding factors were adjusted for using inverse probability-of-treatment weighting (IPTW). Results of the comparison: Patient characteristics according to the intensity of the conditioning regimen were similar for AML type (de novo versus secondary), gender, karnofsky performance status, CR#, donor type and number of CD34+ infused. Particularly, cytogenetic risks were comparable in both groups. Patients were younger in the MAC group (median age 44 years [range 35 to 56 years] vs 54[37 to 66] for RIC, p Conclusion: In patients with AML over 35 years, MAC regimen lead to a non significant higher rate of treatment related mortality with no benefit in terms of relapse when compared with RIC regimen. Until prospective trials are completed, this study supports the use of a RIC regimen for patients with AML older than 35 years who are transplanted either from siblings or matched unrelated donors. Disclosures: Fenaux: Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; GSK: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Abstract 4132 Introduction: Although precise matching of the donor/recipient pairs has been made easier by HLA typing at the allelic level, several issues with respect to unrelated transplantation remain to be addressed. In particular, the impacts of allelic HLA matching in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and myelodysplasic syndrome (MDS) who receive allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem cells (PBSC) after a reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen is still unclear. In the present study, we aim to compare the impact of the donor type in this setting: HLA identical sibling versus HLA matched 10/10 (high resolution) unrelated donor (MUD). Method and transplantation characteristics: From 01/2001 to 12/2010, 108 consecutive patients with AML (n=63) and MDS (n=45) received PBSC after RIC in our center, either from HLA identical sibling (n=69) or MUD (n=39). Conditioning regimen was fludarabine based in 95% of patients and GvHD prophylaxis consisted in cyclosporine plus mycophenolate in 79% of patients. Engraftment, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), transplantation-related mortality (TRM), relapse rate and overall survival (OS) at 3 years were compared according to type of donor: HLA identical sibling donor and MUD. Disease characteristics: WHO classification for MDS at time of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was RAEB1 (24%), RAEB2 (36%), MDS transformed into secondary AML (20%), CMML2 (9%), RA (4%), or other (7%). Disease risk was assumed by cytogenetic (MRC for AML, IPSS for MDS) and EBMT score (good risk: CR1 for AML or MDS or untreated MDS, intermediate risk: CR2 for AML, CR2 or partial remission for MDS, poor risk: all other status). Cytogenetic (no missing data) was poor, intermediate or good for 21, 74 and 5% of AML and 24, 36 and 40% of MDS, respectively. EBMT score at time of HSCT was poor, intermediate or good for 29, 7, 64% of MDS and 11, 21, 68% of AML, respectively. Results of the comparison: Patients characteristics according to type of donor were similar for age (median 57 years), gender and disease distribution. Particularly, disease risks were comparable in 2 groups. Conversely, conditioning regimen (more ATG in MUD: 69 vs. 43%, p=0.016), donor age (younger for MUD: 30 vs. 52 years, p Disclosures: Fenaux: Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Peffault de Latour:Alexion: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Abstract 2603 Purpose Although CBF-AML (i.e. with t(8;21) or inv(16)/t(16;16)) represents a favorable cytogenetic AML subgroup (Döhner, Blood 2010), 35–45% of these patients still relapse after standard intensive chemotherapy. The immunoconjugate gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) was shown to be effective in patients with relapsed AML in non randomized studies and has been recently demonstrated in a Phase 3 trial as associated with a significant benefit in younger adults with CBF-AML (Burnett, JCO 2011). In this study, we thus investigated the impact of GO-based salvage at first relapse in this specific subgroup of patients with CBF-AML. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 84 patients aged 60 years or less with CBF-AML in first relapse after intensive chemotherapy and treated in 18 French centers. None of these patients received allogeneic (alloSCT) or autologous (autoSCT) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission (CR). As salvage, 27 patients received GO, combined with high-dose cytarabine in most of them; 21 patients received high-dose cytarabine and anthracycline without GO; 36 patients received conventional chemotherapy based on standard-dose cytarabine and anthracycline. Post-remission therapy was alloSCT in 49 patients, autoSCT in 17 patients, and chemotherapy alone in 11 patients. Results Among 84 patients with a median age of 39 years [16–58], 36 patients had t(8;21) AML and 48 patients had inv(16)/t(16;16) AML. Median CR1 duration was 12.9 months [2.6–55.3]. Second complete remission (CR2) rate was 92% (77/84), and early death rate was 1% (1/84). The median follow up was 4.0 years. The 5-year overall survival (5y-OS) and relapse-free survival (5y-RFS) was 52% [39–64%] and 48% [36–60%] respectively. Patients receiving alloSCT in CR2 had a better outcome (5y-OS, 56% versus 43%; p=0.05). In patients not allografted in CR2, RFS was similar after autoSCT and chemotherapy alone (5y-RFS, 44% versus 47%, respectively). Patients treated with GO had similar CR rate but a lower risk of second relapse and a better survival than other patients (5y-RFS, 89% versus 55%; p=0.05 and 5y-OS, 90% versus 45%; p=0.03). In univariate analysis, other factors associated with a better OS were younger age, longer CR1 duration, but not CBF subtype (p=0.03, 0.01, and 0.20, respectively). In multivariate analysis adjusted on age, CR1 duration, and CBF subtype, GO salvage was still associated with a significant benefit in OS (HR=0.16 [0.04–0.69], p=0.01) and RFS (HR=0.19 [0.04–0.80], p=0.02). With a median post-relapse follow-up of 2.2 years, no relapse nor death were observed in the 19 patients who received GO salvage followed by alloSCT in CR2 (p=0.007 for RFS; p=0.008 for OS). Moreover, in patients who received alloSCT, previous GO therapy significantly improved post-transplantation outcome. Conclusion Younger patients with CBF-AML in first relapse had a high second complete remission rate regardless the intensive chemotherapy salvage. More interestingly, the outcome of these patients was significantly improved by the addition of GO-based salvage, especially when followed by alloSCT. Disclosures: Off Label Use: GO is available in Europe as a compassionate treatment for relapsed AML.

Abstract 844 Introduction: intensive chemotherapy (IC) in AML post-MDS (here AML) or High Risk-MDS (here MDS) is associated with lower CR rate, shorter response duration and poor overall survival compared to de novo AML. Upfront treatment of MDS with AZA delays time to AML evolution and prolongs overall survival (OS). The low toxicity profile of AZA should also allow its use in IC responders in an outpatient setting. Preliminary results with this approach by the Nordic MDS group in 23 pts (ASH 2008, abstr n°223) showed its feasibility. We used it in AML or MDS patients (pts), who had achieved response after IC. Methods: Inclusion criteria were: (1) de novo MDS patients and IPSS int-2 or high risk (including CMML if WBC Results: From July 06 to June 09, 51 pts (M31/F20) were included but 5 were not evaluable (2 IWG failures upon review, 1 protocol violation, 1 therapy-related MDS, 1 patient too early). The 46 evaluable pts had achieved CR (n=33), CRi (n=11) and PR (n=2) before study entry. Median age was 66y (55-78). Diagnosis at IC onset was MDS (N=13) and AML (N=33), IPSS cytogenetics was normal (N= 28), intermediate (N=10), high (N= 6), and failed (N=2). Median time from diagnosis of MDS to IC was 8 months (0.5-101). Median number of AZA maintenance cycles was 5.5 (0-32+)in CR pts (>23 cycles in 4 of them) and 2 (0-11) in CRi or PR pts. Median follow-up was 24 months (m). Median DFS was 6.5 m and 18-m DFS was 20% (95% CI 9-35); median and 18 month OS from response were 15 m and 43% (95% CI 27-58), respectively. 18-m-DFS and OS were 30 % (95% CI 13-48) and 56% (95% CI 35-72), in the 33 CR pts (median OS 24m), compared to O% and 17% (95% CI 3-41), in the 11 PR/CRi pts, ( P= .0001 and .04, respectively) . 21 of the 33 CR pts had relapsed and 3 had CR duration >24 months. None of the pts in CRi/PR after IC improved their response with AZA. Only initial response to IC (ie CR vs CRi/PR), but not cytogenetics (normal vs. others), diagnosis at IC onset (MDS vs AML), % bone marrow blasts (using 20 or 30 % cut-off), age or time from MDS diagnosis to treatment, significantly predicted DFS or OS in this cohort. AZA dosing in CR patients was escalated in 9 pts but had to be reduced in 6 other pts, due to GI tract intolerance (n=1) and cytopenias (n=5). Only 2/33 CR pts, developed severe infection or febrile neutropenia while in persistent response, compared to 4/11 pts in CRi or PR (including 1 fatal case). We finally compared outcome of the 22 AML study pts in CR to that of 46 similar AML post MDS pts from our ALFA group elderly AML 9803 study (Gardin, Blood 2007), in which pts in CR received DNR/IDA–AraC post-remission therapy. Cumulative incidence of relapse did not differ between the present AZA cohort in AML patients and the ALFA cohort (18-m CIR at 41% (95% CI 18-63) and 25% (95% CI 13-40), respectively; P=0.92). OS from CR was also identical between the 2 cohorts (18-m OS of 56% (95% CI 31-76) and 54% (95% CI 37-69), respectively; P=0.84) Conclusion: In this study, post–CR therapy with AZA alone was associated with a 30% DFS rate and 56% OS at 18m and a median OS of 24m, while pts in CRi or PR did not benefit from AZA. Although selection biases may exist between cohorts, DFS and OS of AML post MDS in CR were identical to those observed in similar pts treated after CR by anthracyclin and AraC consolidation. Hematological toxicity of AZA, however, was minimal. Combinations of AZA with other drugs may be of further interest in those patients at high–risk of relapse. Disclosures: Gardin: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: azacitidine as post-remission therapy in AML patients. Dombret:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Fenaux:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ortho Biotech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Cephalon: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Background: AZA significantly improves survival over conventional treatment in higher risk MDS, especially in case of −7/del 7q (ASH 2007, abst n°817). Del 5q is the most frequent cytogenetic abn in MDS. Lower risk MDS with del 5q respond dramatically to lenalidomide (LEN), but the response rate to LEN is lower in higher risk MDS and AML with del 5q, that still have a poor outcome (ASH 2007, abst n°820). We analyzed response to AZA in those pts. Methods: A multicenter patient named treatment program of AZA (75mg/m2/d for 7 days every 28 days) for higher risk MDS and AML (ATU program) was started in France in 2004. The first 195 pts having completed ≥ 1 cycle included 38 pts with del 5q treated in 16 centers, who are analyzed here. Results: Median age was 66y (range 45–82). M/F : 20/18, WHO at inclusion : AML in 14 pts (de novo : 8, post-MDS : 5, post-MPD : 1 ; first-line : 9, relapsing/refractory after intensive chemo : 5), MDS in 24 pts (RCMD-RS : 1; RAEB1 : 4; RAEB2 : 15; RAEBt : 1; CMML : 1; unclass : 2). Del 5q was isolated in 3/38 cases, and with 1 and > 1 additional abn in 4 and 31 cases resp.(31 complex karyotypes). 22/38 pts had concomitant −7/del 7q. In MDS pts, IPSS was int-2 in 5 and high in 19 pts, resp. 6 pts had received LEN without response. Pts received a median of 3 cycles of AZA (range 1–17). The overall response rate (ORR, including CR+ PR+ marrow CR) of pts with del 5q was 11% (4% PR, 7% marrow CR, but no CR). An additional 4% of MDS achieved only HI-E. ORR of del 5q pts was lower than that of pts without del 5q (11% vs 30%, p=0.04). In del 5q pts, the ORR was similar in pts with and without concomitant −7/del 7q (6 vs 13%, p=.56). On the other hand, the ORR was 19% in −7/del7q pts (n=48) and tended to be lower in the presence than in the absence of concomitant del 5q (7% vs 27% resp., p=.09). In the overall group of pts with complex karyotype (n=46), the ORR was 18%, and also tended to be negatively affected by presence of del 5q (9% vs 27%, p=0.2). After adjustment on risk factors in the ATU cohort (including WHO diagnosis and age), del 5q pts still had a poorer ORR (HR=0.26 [0.07–0.91], p=0.035). Median survival after onset of AZA was 9 months in pts with del 5q vs 15 months in pts without del 5q (p=.007), and this difference was confirmed after adjustment on age and WHO diagnosis (HR=050 [0.28–0.89], p=0.019). In pts with complex karyotype, there was a trend for lower OS in case of del 5q (median 10 m vs 7 m, p=0.25). Conclusion: Those findings suggest that higher risk MDS and AML with del 5q have poorer response rates and survival to AZA as single agent than other high risk MDS and AML, possibly also including pts with complex karyotype without del 5q. Novel therapeutic strategies, combining for example AZA and other drugs, may be required in those pts.

The French group, GOELAMS, performed a multicenter phase III randomized open trial to evaluate whether adding androgens to post-remission induction therapy was associated with an improved outcome in elderly pts with de novo AML. All patients received the ICL induction protocol (idarubicin 8mg/m2 day1–5, cytarabine 100mg/m2 day1–7 & lomustine 200mg/m2 day1). Patients in complete or partial remission received maintenance therapy consisting in 6 reinduction courses (idarubicin 8mg/m2 day1, cytarabine 100mg/m2 day1–5.), once every 3 months, with a continuous regimen of methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine in-between these. At diagnosis, patients were randomized to receive (AndroG arm) or not (Control arm) norethandrolone 10 to 20 mg per day, according to body weight. Androgen was started after recovery from aplasia, between day-20 and day-30 following induction chemotherapy, and was to be continued during the 2-year maintenance therapy period if a complete or partial remission was achieved following induction chemotherapy. The two arms were well-balanced for known prognostic factors. Between June 2002 and January 2005, 330 patients with de novo AML and age 60 y (median 70, range 60–86) were included. Pts with acute promyelocytic leukemia were not included. At diagnosis, ECOG was 0–1, 2, 3–4 in 270, 55, and 5 cases; WBC count was < 4 G/L, > 30 G/L, > 100 G/L in 141, 85, and 33 pts. Of note, 61% of the pts with a WBC count < 4 G/L were males, and 52% of males had a low WBC count vs 33% of females (p Results: Crude univariate analyses regarding the effect of androgen randomization on 5-year relapse incidence, LFS, EFS and OS are listed in Table 1. Table 1 Full time period from diagnosis HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; Cox p-val, p-value of Cox regression model. Endpoints Control AndroG Gray test p-val HR; 95%CI Cox p-val Relapse 66% 54% 0.21 -- -- LFS 23% 33% -- 0.79; 0.58–1.09 0.15 EFS 16% 22% -- 0.95; 0.75–1.22 0.69 OS 19% 26% -- 0.96; 0.74–1.23 0.72 Of note, the effect of norethandrolone on relapse incidence, LFS, EFS, and OS, was violating the proportional hazards assumption (scaled Schoenfeld residuals analysis). Since the 2 hazards rate functions crossed each other, which would result in ineffective comparisons if using log-rank tests, time-dependent models were considered. For all these endpoints, as estimates for the 2 arms were not significantly different during the first year, but diverged during the following years, favoring the AndroG arm (Table 2, Figure 1), a step-function at 1 year from diagnosis was considered. Table 2 Time period starting 1 year from diagnosis Endpoints Control AndroG Gray test p-val HR; 95%CI Cox p-val Relapse 55% 33% < 0.01 -- -- LFS 37% 54% -- 0.56; 0.33–0.94 0.028 EFS 32% 52% -- 0.57; 0.36–0.89 0.013 OS 37% 60% -- 0.63; 0.41–0.96 0.034 Figure Figure Thus, for pts alive and in complete remission at 1 year from diagnosis, relapse incidence was lower, while LFS, EFS and OS were higher in the AndroG arm, even after adjusting for other significant covariates (p=0.029 Relapse; p=0.038 LFS; p=0.028 EFS; p=0.029 OS). Moreover, the beneficial effect of norethandrolone was more pronounced in males, and in pts having WBC count < 4 G/L as shown in Figure 2 for the LFS. Figure Figure Conclusion: addition of low-dose norethandrolone to maintenance chemotherapy is associated with an improved outcome in elderly pts with AML; especially in those achieving CR and remaining in remission for at least a year. Improved outcome was observed with androgen in males and/or in pts with low proliferative disease.

In an attempt to improve the outcome of acute myeloid leukemia in older patients, we performed a multicenter randomized trial evaluating the possible benefit of androgens during post remission therapy. All patients received the ICL regimen as induction (Idarubicin, 8mg/m2 d1–5; Cytarabine, 100mg/m2 d1–7 and Lomustine, 200mg/m2 d1). All patients were randomized at the time of diagnosis to receive, after achieving CR or PR, a maintenance therapy including or not androgens. Maintenance therapy consisted of 6 courses of reinduction with idarubicin (8mg/m2 d1) and cytarabine (100mg/m2d1–5, subcutaneously) every 3 months, and, between these courses, a continuous regimen of methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine. Patients randomized with androgens additionally received 10 to 20 mg according to body weigh of norethandrolone daily from CR/PR on, for up to 2 years. Between June 2002 and January 2005, 330 patients aged ≥ 60 years (median 70 yrs, range 60–86) were included. CR, PR, failure and death rates after induction were 69 %, 6%, 9% and 15% respectively. The median follow-up for the 330 patients was 26 months. Among the 249 patients who achieved remission, 119 had been randomized with norethandrolone and 130 without. The 2 arms were balanced according to age, sex-ratio, performance status, FAB, WBC as well as platelets counts, peripheral blood and bone marrow blasts counts and cytogenetic groups (low risk: t(8;21), inv(16); high risk: del(5), del(7), del(11q), complex karyotype; standard-risk: normal karyotype and other aberrations). Differences in CR rates were only related to the latter parameter of cytogenetic features (P = 0.005). For the whole cohort of patients DFS at 3-years was 23±3% (median 13 months) and OS at 3 years was 29±3% (median 15 months). For patients who achieved CR or PR and had been randomized, the addition of androgens did not influence either DFS (P = 0.6) or OS (P = 0. 9), even when considering age groups, high/low WBC, or cytogenetic features. In conclusion, the ICL regimen followed by six reinductions and two years maintenance therapy induce high CR rates and improve OS and DFS. However the addition of androgens did not decrease the relapse rate.

AMLs constitute an heterogeneous group of hematopoietic stem cell disorders of rather poor prognosis. Abnormal activation of signaling pathways including STAT, MAPK and NF-KB have been described in AMLs and could constitute new targets for therapy. In this study, we focused on the PI3K/AKT and mTOR/P70S6K activity in primary blast cells purified from the bone marrow of patients with primary (n = 54) or secondary (n =10) AMLs. Patients with de novo AMLs were issued from the AML2001 French Multicenter Trial directed by the GOELAMS. The FAB classification was the following: M0 (n = 8), M1 (n = 10) M2 (n = 21), M4 (n = 10), M4eo (n = 2), M5 (n = 11), unknown AML (n = 2). In 58% of these patients, a constitutive activation of PI3K/AKT was detected in blast cells by western blot analysis showing AKT and FOXO3a phosphorylation, and confirmed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analysis in CD34+ blast cells. Constitutive GAB1/2 phosphorylation was detected in all PI3K+ patients. However, we did not find any correlation between PI3K activation and FLT3 gene mutations. PTEN and SHIP-1 expression was normal in all tested PI3K+ patients. Proliferation (3H thymidine incorporation) was significantly increased in PI3K+ samples compared to PI3K- samples (p=0.001). The mTOR/P70S6K pathway was activated and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin selectively reduced proliferation of PI3K+ samples. We determined the expression of the alpha, beta and delta isoforms of the catalytic sub-unit of PI3K (p110) in leukemic cells and found that p110 delta was the only consistently expressed isoform. In 8 PI3K+ samples tested, IC87114 (ICOS Corporation), a specific p110delta inhibitor compound used at 10μM totally suppressed AKT and FOXO3a phosphorylation. IC87114 inhibited proliferation of PI3K+ leukemic cells whereas it did not induce apoptosis. IC87114 did not significantly impaired the proliferation of PI3K- blast cells. Interestingly, IC87114 did not inhibit the proliferation or clonogenicity of CD34+ cord blood cells cultured in SCF, FLT3L and TPO used as controls. Overall, our results report, a/ a constitutive activation of PI3K in 58% of AML, b/ no correlation between FLT3 gene mutations and PI3K positivity, c/ no implication of PTEN or SHIP-1 phosphatases in PI3K activation, d/ a major role of the p110 delta isoform of PI3K in leukemic cell proliferation, e/ a potential therapeutic value of inhibiting mTOR and P110 delta activity.

Abstract 1577 Poster Board I-603 INTRODUCTION The prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in patients over 60 years of age remains very poor, especially in those with unfavorable cytogenetic abnormalities. Breems et al. recently identified in AML patients under 60 years old, a monosomal karyotype (MK), defined by the presence of at least two autosomal monosomies or one monosomy plus one structural abnormality. MK provides a significantly better prognostic prediction than the conventionally defined complex karyotype (CK) in such young patients [J Clin Oncol 2008;26:4791-7]. METHODS In order to investigate the prognostic relevance of MK in the elderly, a retrospective study of 186 previously untreated AML patients with classically defined unfavourable cytogenetic was performed. All were aged 60 years or more and were selected among patients enrolled in 3 prospective GOELAMS trials (SA4, SA2002 and R04) between 1996 and 2006. In the three consecutive trials, patients were treated with standard dose cytarabine + idarubicin, followed by monthly re-inductions and maintenance. Poor-risk cytogenetics' patients were well-balanced between the treatment's arms and no significant influence of the hypotheses tested in the trials could be demonstrated (beneficial effect of fludarabine, androgenotherapy or gemtuzumab-ozogamicin, respectively) [manuscripts submitted]. RESULTS The median age of the patients was 68 years (range: 60-79 y) and the M/F ratio 95/91. Thirteen percent of the patients had secondary AML. Leukocytosis >30 G/L was noted in 15% of the cases. Poor cytogenetic features included monosomy 5 or del 5q in 89 patients (48%) and monosomy 7 or del 7q in 86 (46%). Only 9 patients ( CONCLUSION These results, obtained within a cohort of elderly patients with cytogenetically unfavourable AML, show that MK, according to the criteria proposed by Breems et al., is also an independent factor of very poor prognosis in older age, further stratifying prognostic subgroups. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Introduction. The prognosis of AML in patients over 60 years of age remains very poor. As in younger patients karyotype is a major prognostic factor. Elderly patients with poor risk cytogenetics have a dismal outcome and complete remission (CR) rates with conventional chemotherapy are usually < 45% (and < 25% if complex abnormalities). GO has been used in combination with chemotherapy in relapsed or newly diagnosed AML, but with reduced doses in order to decrease hepatic toxicity. Methods. In this multicentric open-label Phase II study we have evaluated the combination of I (8 mg/m2/D × D1-5) + C (100 mg/m2/D × D1-7) with GO (6 mg/m2 on D3) in AML patients aged 60–75 years with poor risk cytogenetics and fit enough to undergo cytotoxic chemotherapy. Other inclusion criteria were: CD33+ AML, PS 2, de novo or secondary AML (excluding M3 and Ph1 + AML), no cardiac, renal or hepatic dysfunction. Results. 44 pts aged 60–74 (median 68) were treated in 13 GOELAMS centers. Karyotype results were: chromosome (chr) 5 abnormalities 22, chr 7 abnormalities 26, chr 5+7 abnormalities 14, complex abnormalities 26. In 13 cases (30%) AML was secondary (chemoinduced 9, prior myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic syndrome 4). Median duration of hospitalisation was 31 D (4–51). In CR patients median duration of neutropenia was 19 D (14–28) and median duration of thrombocytopenia was 15D (5–29). Bacterial or fungal infections were documented in 71% of cases. 7 patients had severe bleeding including 3 deaths, (2 cerebral hemorrhage, 1 intestinal bleeding). Grade 2 hepatic dysfunction was seen in 30% of patients including 3 (7%) pts with veino-occlusive disease (one death). There were 17 (38%) CR (16 CR, 1 CRp), 6 (14%) toxic deaths and 21 (48%) failures. The CR rates was 41% (7/17) for patients aged 70–75 and 37% (10/27) for patients < 70 years. While CR rate was 50% (6/12) in patients with isolated chr 5 or 7 abnormalities, it was 35% (9/26) in patients with complex abnormalities. Conclusion. In this population of elderly but relatively fit patients with poor risk cytogenetics AML the addition of GO 6 mg/m2 to conventional chemotherapy did not appear to increase the CR rate mostly because of leukemic resistance. The incidence of aplasia-related toxicities and of hepatic complications does not encourage to use higher doses of GO.

International audience; The French National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals leads an active and sustained nationwide surveillance program on probable and proven invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) to determine their epidemiology in France. Between 2012 and 2018, a total of 10,886 IFDs were recorded. The incidence increased slightly over time (2.16 to 2.36/10,000 hospitalization days, P = 0.0562) in relation with an increase of fungemia incidence (1.03 to 1.19/10,000, P = 0.0023), while that of other IFDs remained stable. The proportion of ≥65-year-old patients increased from 38.4% to 45.3% (P < 0.0001). Yeast fungemia (n = 5,444) was due mainly to Candida albicans (55.6%) with stable proportions of species over time. Echinocandins became the main drug prescribed (46.7% to 61.8%), but global mortality rate remained unchanged (36.3% at 1 month). Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (n = 2,106) was diagnosed mostly in HIV-negative patients (80.7%) with a significantly higher mortality than in HIV-positive patients (21.9% versus 5.4% at 1 month, P < 0.0001). Invasive aspergillosis (n = 1,661) and mucormycosis (n = 314) were diagnosed mostly in hematology (>60% of the cases) with a global mortality rate of 42.5% and 59.3%, respectively, at 3 months and significant changes in diagnosis procedure over time. More concurrent infections were also diagnosed over time (from 5.4% to 9.4% for mold IFDs, P = 0.0115). In conclusion, we observed an aging of patients with IFD with a significant increase in incidence only for yeast fungemia, a trend toward more concurrent infections, which raises diagnostic and therapeutic issues. Overall, global survival associated with IFDs has not improved despite updated guidelines and new diagnostic tools.IMPORTANCE The epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) is hard to delineate given the difficulties in ascertaining the diagnosis that is often based on the confrontation of clinical and microbiological criteria. The present report underlines the interest of active surveillance involving mycologists and clinicians to describe the global incidence and that of the main IFDs. Globally, although the incidence of Pneumocystis pneumonia, invasive aspergillosis, and mucormycosis remained stable over the study period (2012 to 2018), that of yeast fungemia increased slightly. We also show here that IFDs seem to affect older people more frequently. The most worrisome observation is the lack of improvement in the global survival rate associated with IFDs despite the increasing use of more sensitive diagnostic tools, the availability of new antifungal drugs very active in clinical trials, and a still low/marginal rate of acquired in vitro resistance in France. Therefore, other tracks of improvement should be investigated actively.