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Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide is a curative treatment for many hematological malignancies, yet a majority of patients still suffers from recurrent infections. Post-transplant infusion of memory T cells could potentially enhance immunological protection without increasing the risk of eliciting acute graft-versus-host disease, which is mainly induced by naïve T cells. Here, we performed longitudinal analysis of the lymphocyte compartment in 19 haplo-HSCT patients previously enrolled in a phase II prospective clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04687982), in which they received post-transplant CD45RA-depleted donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). T cell receptor sequencing analysis showed that, surprisingly, CD45RA-depleted DLI do not increase T cell clonal diversity, but lead to prominent expansion of a selected number of infused memory T cell clones, suggestive of recruitment of these cells in the immune response. Pathogen-specific memory T cells, including cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cells, engrafted and were able to persist for at least one month. Deep immunophenotyping revealed strong polyfunctional effector CMV-specific T cell responses in the majority of patients, with their expansion correlating with the frequency of CMV-specific cells in the donor. These findings provide a rationale behind the suggested improved protection against viral infections for patients receiving CD45RA-depleted DLI.

Purpose Total marrow (and lymphoid) irradiation (TMI-TMLI) is limited by the couch travel range of modern linacs, which forces the treatment delivery to be split into two plans with opposite orientations: a head-first supine upper-body plan, and a feet-first supine lower extremities plan. A specific field junction is thus needed to obtain adequate target coverage in the overlap region of the two plans. In this study, an automatic procedure was developed for field junction creation and lower extremities plan optimization. Methods Ten patients treated with TMI-TMLI at our institution were selected retrospectively. The planning of the lower extremities was performed automatically. Target volume parameters (CTV_J‑V98% > 98%) at the junction region and several dose statistics (D98%, Dmean, and D2%) were compared between automatic and manual plans. The modulation complexity score (MCS) was used to assess plan complexity. Results The automatic procedure required 60–90 min, depending on the case. All automatic plans achieved clinically acceptable dosimetric results (CTV_J‑V98% > 98%), with significant differences found at the junction region, where Dmean and D2% increased on average by 2.4% (p p Conclusion The developed procedure allowed treatment planning of TMI-TMLI to be streamlined, increasing efficiency and standardization, preventing human errors, while maintaining the dosimetric plan quality and complexity of manual plans. Automated strategies can simplify the future adoption and clinical implementation of TMI-TMLI treatments in new centers.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a valid option in patients with refractory lymphomas. HLA haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) expanded the accessibility to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. The aims of study were to retrospectively assess the toxicity and efficacy of haplo-SCT using nonmyeloablative conditioning in patients with advanced lymphoma. In total, 147 patients with advanced lymphoma at 2 partner institutions were included. Patients received a uniform nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), GVHD, nonrelapse mortality, and GVHD, relapse-free survival (GRFS). Median follow-up was 39 months (range, 6 to 114 months). The median age was 46 years (range, 19 to 71 years). Sixty-five percent of patients were in complete remission (CR) at transplantation. Cumulative incidence of grade II to IV acute GVHD was 30% (95% confidence interval [Cl], 23% to 38%). Two-year cumulative incidence of all grades of chronic GVHD was 13% (95% CI, 8% to 20%). Two-year cumulative incidence of disease relapse was 19% (95% CI, 14% to 27%), with a higher incidence in patients not being in CR at allo-HCT (CR versus not CR: 12% versus 33%, P = .006). Two-year PFS, OS, and GRFS were 66% (95% CI, 59-75), 73% (95% CI, 66-81), and 56% (95% CI, 48-65), respectively. Haplo-SCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide may be considered a valid option for patients with aggressive lymphoma and deserves further evaluation.

Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) is a prognostic score reflecting endothelial damage. It can identify cohorts of patients at higher risk of non-relapse mortality (NRM) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) from a matched-related or -unrelated donor. No data are available in the setting of haploidentical-SCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy). We retrospectively analyzed the role of EASIX score in a cohort of 266 patients receiving Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy at our center. By a decision-tree model, 1-year NRM was 16% vs. 29% and overall survival was 59% vs. 32%, respectively, for patients with a pre-transplant EASIX (EASIX-PRE)0.8 vs. ≥0.8 (p 0.001). By multivariable analysis, EASIX-PRE was an independent predictor of NRM (hazard ratio [HR] 2.43, p 0.001) and overall survival (HR: 1.64, p = 0.011). EASIX-PRE did not predict patients at higher risk of developing acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) but was an independent predictor of 1-year NRM (3.2 cutoff, HR 6.61, p = 0.002;3.2 vs. ≥3.2: 10% vs. 56%, p 0.001) in patients developing acute GVHD. EASIX score can also represent an important tool to predict mortality in the setting of Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy. It may help to make therapeutic decisions both before the transplant and at the onset of acute GVHD.

We report on 59 Hodgkin lymphoma patients undergoing haploidentical stem cell transplantation (SCT; haplo-SCT) with posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, comparing outcomes based on pretransplant exposure to checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). Considering pretransplant characteristics, the 2 cohorts (CPI = 29 patients vs no-CPI = 30 patients) were similar, except for the number of prior lines of therapy (6 vs 4; P < .001). With a median follow-up of 26 months (range, 7.5-55 months), by univariate analysis, the 100-day cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 acute GVHD was 41% in the CPI group vs 33% in the no-CPI group (P = .456), whereas the 1-year cumulative incidence of moderate to severe chronic GVHD was 7% vs 8%, respectively (P = .673). In the CPI cohort, the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse appeared lower compared with the no-CPI cohort (0 vs 20%; P = .054). No differences were observed in terms of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) (at 2 years, 77% vs 71% [P = .599], 78% vs 53% [P = .066], and 15% vs 21% [P = .578], respectively). By multivariable analysis, CPI before SCT was an independent protective factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.32; P = .037). Stable disease (SD)/progressive disease (PD) was an independent negative prognostic factor for both OS and PFS (HR, 14.3; P < .001 and HR, 14.1; P < .001, respectively) . In conclusion, CPI as a bridge to haplo-SCT seems to improve PFS, with no impact on toxicity profile.

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) represents a life‐threatening side effect after haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo‐SCT) with posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PT‐Cy). Factors predictive of CRS development is still a matter of debate. We retrospectively analyzed 102 consecutive patients receiving a bone marrow (BM) (n = 42) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) (n = 60) Haplo‐SCT with PT‐Cy. The two cohorts were similar in main patients’ characteristics besides disease type (P = .02). Cumulative incidence of grades 1, 2, and ≥3 CRS was 80%, 52%, and 15% at a median of 2, 4, and 7 days, respectively. Moderate/High‐grade fever (39°‐41°), grade 1 and grade ≥3 CRS occurred more frequently after PBSC relative to BM grafts (68% vs 33%, P = .0005; 87% vs 71%, P = .009; 20% vs 7%, P = .07). Only patients experiencing grade ≥3 CRS had a worse outcome in terms of 1‐year overall survival (OS) and nonrelapse mortality (NRM): 39% vs 80% (P = .002) and 40% vs 8% (P = .005), respectively. By univariate analysis the only factors associated with the increased risk of ≥3 CRS were pretransplant disease status (8% for complete remission, 11% for partial remission, and 38% for active disease, P = .002), HLA‐DRB1 mismatching (57% vs 14%, P = .007), and PBSC graft (P = .07). By multivariable analysis, only pretransplant disease status (hazard ratio, HR: 6.84, P = .005) and HLA‐DRB1 mismatching (HR: 17.19, P = .003) remained independent predictors of grade ≥3 CRS. Only grade ≥3 CRS is clinically relevant for the final outcome of patients receiving Haplo‐SCT with PT‐Cy, is more frequent after a PBSC graft and is associated with pretransplant active disease and HLA‐DRB1 mismatching., Severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) may occur after T‐cell‐replete haploidentical stem cell transplantation and conditions nonrelapse mortality. Disease burden and HLA mismatch in the graft‐vs‐host‐disease direction are the main factors affecting the occurrence of severe CRS.

Background: The total marrow and lymph node irradiation (TMLI) target includes the bones, spleen, and lymph node chains, with the latter being the most challenging structures to contour. We evaluated the impact of introducing internal contour guidelines to reduce the inter- and intraobserver lymph node delineation variability in TMLI treatments. Methods: A total of 10 patients were randomly selected from our database of 104 TMLI patients so as to evaluate the guidelines’ efficacy. The lymph node clinical target volume (CTV_LN) was recontoured according to the guidelines (CTV_LN_GL_RO1) and compared to the historical guidelines (CTV_LN_Old). Both topological (i.e., Dice similarity coefficient (DSC)) and dosimetric (i.e., V95 (the volume receiving 95% of the prescription dose) metrics were calculated for all paired contours. Results: The mean DSCs were 0.82 ± 0.09, 0.97 ± 0.01, and 0.98 ± 0.02, respectively, for CTV_LN_Old vs. CTV_LN_GL_RO1, and between the inter- and intraobserver contours following the guidelines. Correspondingly, the mean CTV_LN-V95 dose differences were 4.8 ± 4.7%, 0.03 ± 0.5%, and 0.1 ± 0.1%. Conclusions: The guidelines reduced the CTV_LN contour variability. The high target coverage agreement revealed that historical CTV-to-planning-target-volume margins were safe, even if a relatively low DSC was observed.

International audience; Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies yield high response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), but most patients will eventually progress. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) after PD-1 blockade may be associated with increased toxicity, raising challenging questions about the role, timing, and optimal method of transplantation in this setting. To address these questions, we assembled a retrospective cohort of 209 cHL patients who underwent alloHCT after PD-1 blockade. With a median follow-up among survivors of 24 months, the 2-year cumulative incidences (CIs) of non-relapse mortality and relapse were 14 and 18%, respectively; the 2-year graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and relapse-free survival (GRFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were 47%, 69%, and 82%, respectively. The 180-day CI of grade 3-4 acute GVHD was 15%, while the 2-year CI of chronic GVHD was 34%. In multivariable analyses, a longer interval from PD-1 to alloHCT was associated with less frequent severe acute GVHD, while additional treatment between PD-1 and alloHCT was associated with a higher risk of relapse. Notably, post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based GVHD prophylaxis was associated with significant improvements in PFS and GRFS. While awaiting prospective clinical trials, PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis may be considered the optimal transplantation strategy for this patient population.

Risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and the impact of CMV reactivation on patient outcomes have been extensively investigated after matched related or unrelated donor transplantation, but little is known in the setting of haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo-SCT) with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy), in which recipients are considered more severely immunocompromised. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 554 consecutive patients undergoing Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy at 3 different centers. Early CMV reactivation (occurring within the first 120 days post-transplantation) occurred in 242 patients, for an estimated cumulative incidence of 44%. Among those patients, 74 (30%) had recurrent CMV and 20 (8%) had CMV disease. On multivariable analysis, positive recipient CMV serostatus (hazard ratio [HR]2.5; P.001), disease histology (lymphoid versus myeloid: HR, 0.66; P = .003) and increasing recipient age (HR, 1.01; P = .015) were independent predictors of CMV reactivation. At a 4-month landmark analysis, CMV reactivation was associated with higher 1-year and 5-year cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) relative to patients without reactivation: 13% versus 5% and 22% versus 9%, respectively (P.001). On multivariable analysis, CMV reactivation was an independent negative predictor of NRM (HR, 2.69; P.001) and was close to statistically significant for overall survival (HR, 1.38; P = .062). Our results suggest that CMV reactivation plays an important role at determining NRM. Because patient CMV serostatus is the main predictor of CMV reactivation, it should be considered when evaluating strategies for preventing CMV reactivation. 2022 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The presence of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) is associated with a 10-fold increased risk of graft failure in haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT). Consensus guidelines from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation set a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI)1000 as a cutoff for DSA positivity. In the absence of an alternative donor, it is recommended that patients undergo desensitization therapy, especially with high DSA levels (5000 MFI). The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of DSA on risk of graft failure and poor graft function, as well as on major outcomes in a consecutive cohort of patients who were systematically screened for DSA before haplo-SCT. A total of 141 consecutive patients were candidates for unmanipulated haplo-SCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) at our center between January 2012 and January 2018, and 135 were analyzed for the presence of HLA antibodies. Of these 134 patients underwent haplo-SCT. HLA antibodies were detected in 40 patients, including 19 with DSA and 21 without DSA. Ten of the 19 patients with DSA underwent transplantation using that donor, whereas 2 underwent a desensitization program before transplantation. Only 2 patients experienced primary graft failure (1.4 %), both of whom were without DSA. Twenty patients developed a poor graft function (15%). The 3-year overall survival (OS), 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), and 1-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were analyzed according to the presence or absence of DSA. No statistically significant difference was found. No impact of the presence of DSA on the risk of developing graft failure and poor graft function was revealed. Major outcomes of transplantation were analyzed separately in patients with poor graft function and those with good graft function. The 3-year OS, 3-year PFS, and 1-year NRM in good graft function and poor graft function populations were 62% versus 20% (P.0001), 53% versus 20% (P.0001), and 12% versus 40% (P = .009), respectively. The presence of low-level DSA in the absence of desensitization did not correlate with the risk of developing graft failure and poor graft function. Patients who experienced poor graft function had worse outcomes than patients with good graft function.

While bone marrow (BM) grafts were initially used for T-replete HLA-haploidentical related donors transplantation (Haplo-SCT) with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy), the use of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) remains debated. We thus conducted a detailed analysis evaluating the incidence, risk factors, and prevalence of GVHD after PBSC Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy. One hundred and eighty-one patients with hematological diseases were included. Median time for neutrophil and platelet recovery was 21 and 30 days, respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade 3-4 acute GVHD and severe chronic GVHD were 8% and 4%, respectively, approaching what was observed after BM Haplo-SCT. NRM at 2 years was 21%, and 41% of the non-relapse deaths were caused by GVHD. The cumulative incidence of relapse at 2 years was 17% in the whole cohort, and 13% among AML patients (n = 54), suggesting a high GVL effect. As surrogate markers for good quality of life, we observed a 2-year GVHD-relapse-free survival probability of 50% and found that 6% and 2% of disease-free patients at 2 years were still living with GVHD and immunosuppressive treatments, respectively. Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy using PBSC grafts results in low incidence GVHD and promising disease control, making PBSCs a valuable alternative to BM graft in this setting.

Objectives T‐cell–replete haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo‐SCT) with post‐transplant cyclophosphamide (PT‐Cy) is at high risk of invasive fungal infections (IFI), and anti‐mold–active drug is required for primary antifungal prophylaxis (PAP) according to international guidelines. No data are available on the efficacy of caspofungin as PAP in this setting. Methods Here, we report our retrospective experience with 103 consecutive patients treated with caspofungin as PAP after Haplo‐SCT. Caspofungin was administered only during the pre‐engraftment phase. Results Hundred‐day cumulative incidence of proven‐probable IFI (PP‐IFI) was 8.7% and median day of onset was 19 post‐SCT. No patient died of PP‐IFI, and overall survival (OS) and non‐relapse mortality (NRM) hazard ratio (HR) for patients experiencing IFI were 1.02 (P = 0.9) and 0.7 (P = 0.7), respectively. Three‐year overall survival (OS) and 1‐year non‐relapse mortality (NRM) were 55% and 19%, respectively. By univariate analysis, duration of neutropenic phase and partial remission pre‐transplant disease status were associated with increased incidence of IFI, but were not confirmed by multivariate analysis. Conclusion In summary, PAP with caspofungin is an effective strategy for preventing IFI in the context of Haplo‐SCT with PT‐Cy. Further efforts are required in order to identify more potent strategies able to avoid the occurrence of breakthrough infections.

The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is uncertain, even more in the era of bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells. We retrospectively analyzed 55 patients who underwent allo-SCT for MCL relapsed or refractory (r/r) after rituximab and high-dose cytarabine within the MANTLE-FIRST project. With a median follow-up of 3.7 years, non-relapse mortality (NRM), progression-free survival, and overall survival were 23%, 53%, and 56%, respectively. NRM was significantly higher in the case of acute graft-versus-host disease, > 2 prior lines of therapy, age > 60 years. The outcome was similar for patients with early (≤24 months) and late progression of disease. The use of BTKi as a bridge to allo-SCT did not increase the toxicity and allowed a good control of disease. Our real-life experience confirms that allo-SCT still represents an option in MCL patients, especially if young and early-relapsed.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation from haploidentical donors using unmanipulated bone marrow and posttransplantation cyclophosphamide has been largely employed to cure high-risk lymphomas. However, the increased incidence of relapse associated with the use of a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen is still considered a concerning issue. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, including thiotepa, cyclophosphamide, and fludarabine, in high-risk lymphoma patients. This was a prospective multicenter study. We enrolled 49 patients, of whom 47 were evaluable. Graft source (bone marrow) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis were the same for all patients. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients free of disease progression at 1 year. The primary endpoint was met, as 29 out of 47 patients were alive and free of disease at 1 year (1-year progression-free survival, 60%). Forty-five recipients engrafted and achieved full donor chimerism at day 100. The cumulative incidences (CIs) of ANC engraftment at 30 days and platelet engraftment at 60 days were 89% and 83%, respectively. Two patients experienced graft failure. The CIs of day 100 grades 2 to 4 acute GVHD and 2-year moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD were 26% and 16%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 47.5 months (range, 22 to 74), the 4-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 54% and 64%, respectively. The 4-year CI of relapse was 28%, and the 4-year nonrelapse mortality was 15%. Thiotepa-based reduced-intensity conditioning was well tolerated with encouraging survival in a cohort of patients with poor-prognosis lymphoma. Both the incidence of relapse and nonrelapse mortality were acceptable.

In multiple myeloma, novel treatments with proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs) have prolonged survival but the disease remains incurable. At relapse, next-generation sequencing has shown occasional mutations of drug targets but has failed to identify unifying features that underlie chemotherapy resistance. We studied 42 patients refractory to both PIs and IMiDs. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 40 patients, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in 27. We found more mutations than were reported at diagnosis and more subclonal mutations, which implies ongoing evolution of the genome of myeloma cells during treatment. The mutational landscape was different from that described in published studies on samples taken at diagnosis. The TP53 pathway was the most frequently inactivated (in 45% of patients). Conversely, point mutations of genes associated with resistance to IMiDs were rare and were always subclonal. Refractory patients were uniquely characterized by having a mutational signature linked to exposure to alkylating agents, whose role in chemotherapy resistance and disease progression remains to be elucidated. RNA-seq analysis showed that treatment or mutations had no influence on clustering, which was instead influenced by karyotypic events. We describe a cluster with both amp(1q) and del(13) characterized by CCND2 upregulation and also overexpression of MCL1, which represents a novel target for experimental treatments. Overall, high-risk features were found in 65% of patients. However, only amp(1q) predicted survival. Gene mutations of IMiD and PI targets are not a preferred mode of drug resistance in myeloma. Chemotherapy resistance of the bulk tumor population is likely attained through differential, yet converging evolution of subclones that are overall variable from patient to patient and within the same patient.

Busulfan (Bu) is an alkylating agent routinely used for conditioning regimens before allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Bu shows wide pharmacokinetic (PK) variability among patients. Patients can have a higher systemic exposure (expressed as area under the curve [AUC]) with an increased risk of toxicity or a lower AUC with a higher probability of graft rejection and/or disease relapse. After i.v. administration, an optimal Bu therapeutic window (AUC target of 16,000 to 24,000 μM·minute) has been identified. The use of PK-guided Bu dosing leads to improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with fixed-dose administration in a variety of hematologic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and feasibility of a reduced-toxicity conditioning (RTC) regimen comprising thiotepa, Bu, and fludarabine (TBF) with therapeutic drug monitoring of Bu in patients with hematologic disorders. We report on 41 adult patients with myeloid or lymphoid malignancies who underwent an allo-SCT with a PK-guided Bu-based RTC regimen between January 2019 and October 2020. Patients received a total Bu dose to achieve a target AUC of 16,000 μM·minute in combination with Flu and thiotepa. The median time to absolute neutrophil count recovery and transfusion-independent platelet count recovery was 23 days (range, 15 to 42 days) and 29 days (range, 14 to 97 days), respectively. The cumulative incidence (CI) of nonrelapse mortality was 7% at 100 days and 13% at 1 year. Grade 3 liver toxicity was observed in 6 patients. One patient developed sinusoidal obstruction syndrome at day +27. Grade 3 mucositis occurred in 18 patients. Looking at grade ≥3 infections, the CI was 29% at 30 days, 34% at 60 days, 44% at 100 days, and 56% at 1 year. The 180-day CI of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 15%, and the 1-year CI of overall chronic GVHD was 20%. With a median follow-up of alive patients of 14.4 months (range, 3.2 to 24 months), the CI of relapse at 1 year was 6%. The 1-year PFS was 81%, and 1-year OS was 84%. In conclusion, these data support the efficacy of PK-guided Bu dose in the context of a TBF conditioning regimen and the feasibility of therapeutic dosage monitoring of i.v. Bu for patients with hematologic diseases. © 2021 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Low-dose total body irradiation (TBI) has long been used in nonmyeloablative conditioning (NMAC) regimens before allogeneic stem cell transplantation from haploidentical donors (haplo-SCT). More recently, the use of total marrow lymphoid irradiation (TMLI) instead of TBI in conditioning is increasing. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes in a cohort of patients treated with low-dose TMLI in terms of engraftment, full donor chimerism status, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and extrahematologic toxicities, and to compare these outcomes with those in a cohort of patients receiving conventional TBI-containing conditioning. This retrospective single-center study included 100 patients with advanced hematologic malignancies who underwent haplo-SCT. Between 2009 and 2011, the NMAC regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and low-dose TBI (2 Gy), and after 2011, TBI was replaced with TMLI (2 Gy). Patients received post-transplantation cyclophosphamide, calcineurin inhibitor, and mycophenolate mofetil as GVHD prophylaxis. For all patients, the median time to absolute neutrophil count (ANC) recovery to >0.5 × 109/L was 21 days (range, 15 to 49 days), the 30-day incidence of ANC recovery was 97% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89% to 99%), the median time to achieve an unsupported platelet count >20 × 109/L was 26 days (range, 12 to 67 days), and the 60-day rate of platelet engraftment was 99% (95% CI, 89% to 100%). Cumulative incidence of full donor chimerism by day 100 was 88% (95% CI 79-90). Grade II-IV acute GVHD occurred in 35% of the patients (95% CI, 26% to 45%) at a median of 40 days (range, 23 to 166 days). The incidence of moderate to severe chronic GVHD was 5% (95% CI, 2% to 10%). No differences between the TBI and TMLI cohorts were seen in terms of engraftment, full donor chimerism, and GVHD. No organ toxicity was observed in the first months after transplantation in either cohort. The overall 2-year OS and PFS rates were 63%, and 54%, respectively, and were comparable in the 2 groups (P = .548). The strongest finding was that TBI can be safely replaced by TMLI in terms of engraftment, achievement of full donor chimerism status, GVHD incidence, and extrahematologic toxicities.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation from haploidentical donor using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide has been used to cure hematological diseases. Because of slow immunological reconstitution, there is an increased incidence of viral infection. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and the feasibility of a CD45RA+ depleted donor lymphocytes infusion (DLI) in terms of reduction of viral infection early after haploidentical transplantation. This a prospective single-center study. We enrolled 23 patients, of whom 19 were evaluable. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was the same for all patients. The primary endpoint was 100-day cumulative incidence of viral infections. The primary endpoint was met, because the 100-day cumulative incidence of viral infection was 32%. The median time from transplantation to first CD45RA+ depleted DLI was 55 days (range, 46-63). 28% of patients had cytomegalovirus reactivation, no patients reactivated human herpesvirus-6; 1 patient developed BK virus related hemorrhagic cystitis. Most of the patients received the planned 3 infusions. Only 1 patient had development of grade 2 acute GVHD, and 2 patients had moderate chronic GVHD. All evaluable patients were off immunosuppressive therapy at last follow-up. The median follow-up was 12 months (range, 3-23), the 1-year overall survival and progression-free survival were 79% and 75%, respectively; the 100-day and 1-year non-relapse mortality were 5% and 12%, respectively. CD45RA+ depleted DLI are feasible in patients treated with haploidentical transplantation. The toxic profile is good with a low risk for development of both acute and chronic GVHD.

BACKGROUND The authors describe a family with a high penetrance of plasma cell dyscrasias, suggesting inheritance of an autosomal dominant risk allele. METHODS The authors performed whole-exome sequencing and reported on a combined approach aimed at the identification of causative variants and risk loci, using the wealth of data provided by this approach. RESULTS The authors identified gene mutations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms of potential significance, and pinpointed a known risk locus for myeloma as a potential area of transmissible risk in the family. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to provide a whole-exome sequencing approach to such cases, and a framework analysis that could be applied to further understanding of the inherited risk of developing plasma cell dyscrasias. Cancer 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Purpose A body frame dedicated to total marrow (lymph node) irradiation (TMI/TMLI) could minimize patient motion during the potentially extended beam-on time with this technique. We present the development of a dedicated immobilization system for TMI/TMLI using volumetric modulated arc therapy. Methods and Materials Since 2010, 59 adult patients were treated with TMI/TMLI using a multi-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy technique. Two computed tomographies (CTs) were required (1 head-first supine and 1 feet-first supine) to cover the whole volume. For the first 10 patients, 2 standard commercial frames with personalized masks (with/without personalized vacuum cushion for the lower extremities) were used without specific interfixation (frame A). For the next 49 patients a homemade 3-frame immobilization system was adopted (frame B), where each frame was interlocked with the next one and thermoplastic masks used to fix the patient. The effectiveness of the 2 immobilization systems was assessed by offline/online matching between daily cone beam CT of each isocenter and the simulation CTs. Results Mean offline shifts for frame A were 3 to 12 mm in anterior–posterior, 2 to 5 mm in cranilal–caudal, and 2 to 6 mm in left–right directions. Larger shifts were found for feet-first supine series (shifts up to 23 mm). In frame B, mean offline shifts were 1 to 4 mm in anterior–posterior, 1 to 4 mm in cranial–caudal, and 1 to 4 mm in left–right directions. Mean online adjustments were –1 ± 4 mm in anterior–posterior, 0 ± 2 mm in cranial–caudal, and 0 ± 4 mm in left–right directions. Conclusions The patient positioning shifts for TMI/TMLI irradiation were mitigated by a homemade immobilization system and the use of individualized masks.

Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) represents a potential curative strategy for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) when a matched related or unrelated donor is not available. The role of graft source, either bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), in this setting has not been fully elucidated. We performed a retrospective study on 91 patients with HL to compare the outcome after BM (n = 53) or PBSC (n = 38) transplant. Eighty-nine patients engrafted with no difference between BM and PBSCs in terms of median time for neutrophil (20 versus 20 days, P = .405) and platelet (26 versus 26.5 days, P = .994) engraftment. With a median follow-up of 40.2 months, 100-day cumulative incidences of grades II to IV acute graft-versus host disease (GVHD) and grades II to IV acute GVHD were 24% and 4%, respectively. Graft source was not associated with a different risk of acute GVHD both by univariate and multivariate analyses. Consistently, 1-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 7% with no differences between the 2 graft types (P = .761). Two-year rates of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), nonrelapse mortality, and GVHD/relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 67%, 58%, 20%, and 52%, respectively. By univariate analysis, pretransplant disease status was the main variable affecting all outcomes. By multivariate analysis, PBSCs resulted in a protective factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR], .29; P = .006), PFS (HR, .38; P = .001), and GRFS (HR, .44; P = .020). The other independent variables affecting the final outcome were pretransplant disease status and hematopoietic cell transplant–specific comorbidity index. In conclusion, when planning a haplo-SCT with PT-Cy for patients with poor-risk HL, graft type is an important variable to take into account when selecting the best available donor.

This monocentric retrospective study included 70 consecutive relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (RR-HL) patients receiving reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). We evaluated overall and progression-free survival (OS, PFS), graft-versus host disease/relapse-free survival (GFRS), and chronic GVHD-free OS (cGVHD-free OS) defined as OS without moderate-to-severe cGVHD. Patients had a median age of 33 years (range, 18-60 years), 23% had refractory disease (SD/PD). Donors were HLA identical (39%), unrelated (30%), or haploidentical (31%). Median follow-up was 6.2 years. Five-year OS was 59% and PFS was 49%. NRM was 16% at 1 year. 44% of patients had cGVHD, and 14% moderate-to-severe cGVHD at last follow-up. GFRS and cGVHD-free OS were 26 and 48% at 5 years. In multivariate analysis, resistant disease at alloSCT impacted survival and GFRS. In conclusion, disease response before alloSCT impacts survival and GFRS. GVHD outcomes may help comparing the long-term effects of the new salvage treatments that bridge patients to alloSCT.

International audience; In multiple myeloma, next generation sequencing (NGS) has expanded our knowledge of genomic lesions, and highlighted a dynamic and heterogeneous composition of the tumor. Here, we used NGS to characterize the genomic landscape of 418 multiple myeloma cases at diagnosis and correlate this with prognosis and classification. Translocations and copy number changes (CNAs) had a preponderant contribution over gene mutations in defining the genotype and prognosis of each case. Known and novel independent prognostic markers were identified in our cohort of proteasome inhibitor and IMiD-treated patients with long follow-up, including events with context-specific prognostic value, such as deletions of the PRDM1 gene. Taking advantage of the comprehensive genomic annotation of each case, we used innovative statistical approaches to identify potential novel myeloma subgroups. We observed clusters of patients stratified based on the overall number of mutations and number/type of CNAs, with distinct effects on survival, suggesting that extended genotype of multiple myeloma at diagnosis may lead to improved disease classification and prognostication.

BACKGROUND Invasive fungal infections (IFI) represent a common side effect of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT), resulting in increased non relapse mortality (NRM) and reduced overall survival (OS) rates. Seventy-five days of Fluconazole 400 mg/d represents the standard primary antifungal prophylaxis (PAP) after allo-SCT, especially for low-risk transplants. However, the ideal dosage of fluconazole has never been tested. METHODS Here, we report the experience of our institution on 113 consecutive patients receiving an allo-SCT from a HLA identical sibling between 1999 and 2015, where PAP consisted of fluconazole 100 mg/d only during the pre-engraftment phase. At the time of transplant, all patients were considered at low-risk for mold infection according to ECIL-5 guidelines. RESULTS Cumulative incidence of possible-probable-proven IFI was 11.7%, while proven-probable (PP-IFI) occurred in 5.5% of patients by day 100 post transplant. Of note, only 1 patient developed invasive Candidiasis due to a non-albicans strain and stool-screening tests were negative for colonization by Candida albicans species. The incidence of 1-year acute and 2-year chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) was 30% and 45%, respectively. Three-year OS and 1-year NRM were 53% and 11.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION In summary, fungal prophylaxis with fluconazole 100 mg/d results in very low incidence of PP-IFI, GVHD and NRM in low-risk allo-SCT.

The authors describe a family with a high penetrance of plasma cell dyscrasias, suggesting inheritance of an autosomal dominant risk allele.The authors performed whole-exome sequencing and reported on a combined approach aimed at the identification of causative variants and risk loci, using the wealth of data provided by this approach.The authors identified gene mutations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms of potential significance, and pinpointed a known risk locus for myeloma as a potential area of transmissible risk in the family.To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to provide a whole-exome sequencing approach to such cases, and a framework analysis that could be applied to further understanding of the inherited risk of developing plasma cell dyscrasias. Cancer 2017;123:3701-3708. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Allogeneic (allo) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) currently represents the only potentially curative therapy for patients affected by multiple myeloma (MM). Up to 30% of patients in western countries do not have a matched donor. Haploidentical HCT (haplo-HCT) may be an option, but currently, there are little available data regarding this treatment. We analyzed survival outcomes of 30 heavily pretreated MM patients who received haplo-HCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide as graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Median neutrophil and platelet engraftments at day +30 were 87% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66% to 95%) and 60% (95% CI, 40% to 75%), respectively. The cumulative incidences of relapse or progression of disease (PD) and nonrelapse mortality at 18 months were 42% (95% CI, 23% to 59%) and 10% (95% CI, 2% to 24%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade II to IV acute GVHD at day +100 was 29% (95% CI, 14% to 47%). The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD at 18 months was 7% (95% CI, 1% to 21%). With a median follow-up in survivors of 25 months (range, 15 to 73 months), the 18-month progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 33% (95% CI, 17% to 50%) and 63% (95% CI, 44% to 78%), respectively. No differences were observed between peripheral blood and bone marrow graft in terms of engraftment, GVHD, or PD incidence. Chemorefractory disease at transplantation was associated with a lower/reduced 18-month PFS (9% versus 47%, P = .01) and OS (45% versus 74%, P = .03). This was explained by a higher PD incidence (55% versus 33%, P = .05). In this multicenter study, we report encouraging results with haplo-HCT for patients with heavily pretreated MM.

Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) may favor autoimmune disease (AD) occurrence. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate AD occurrence among IMiD-treated patients with myeloma. Patients were grouped into three classes depending on the type of IMiD engaged. The first group included patients treated with thalidomide (Thal) (n = 474), the second group with lenalidomide (Len) (n = 140) and patients in the third group were first treated with Thal followed by Len (Thal-Len) (n = 94). Absolute risk of AD was 0.4% for patients treated with Thal, 4.3% for Len and 1.1% for Thal-Len. ADs manifested prevalently as autoimmune cytopenias (55%), although we observed one vasculitis, one optic neuritis, one Graves' disease and one polymyositis. ADs occurred preferentially in the first months of IMiD treatment. A previous autologous transplant was shown to be a significant risk factor. All ADs were managed with IMiD discontinuation and steroids, resolving in a few weeks, except for Graves' disease and polymyositis.

Introduction: Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are highly active in relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), but most patients (pts) will still relapse. Given this, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) remains an important option for pts after PD-1 blockade, as it offers the possibility of cure. Prior reports have suggested that alloHSCT after PD-1 mAbs may be associated with severe immune-related complications including acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and cytokine release/febrile non-infectious syndrome (CRS). Prior studies of alloHSCT after PD-1 blockade in cHL have been limited by the small number of pts and short follow-up, preventing an accurate assessment of long-term outcomes and complications, risk factors for early toxicity, and the impact of transplant strategies such as choice of GVHD prophylaxis. We therefore assembled a large retrospective international cohort of cHL pts who underwent alloHSCT after PD-(L)1 blockade to better answer these questions, including an assessment of the impact of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) on efficacy and toxicity. Methods: Medical records and databases were reviewed at 26 European and United States transplant centers to identify pts with cHL who underwent an alloHSCT any time after receiving a PD-1 or PD-L1 mAb. Response assessment was performed by local investigators according to Lugano 2014 criteria. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), cumulative incidence (CumInc) of relapse (CIR), non-relapse mortality (NRM), acute (a) and chronic (c) GVHD were estimated, as was the association between baseline variables and these outcomes. Results: Between 2014 and 2019, 150 pts were identified who underwent alloHSCT after a median of 10 (range, 1-74) doses of nivolumab (n=118), pembrolizumab (n=31), or avelumab (n=1). The median age was 31 (range 17-68) and pts had received a median of 4 (range, 2-11) lines of therapy prior to PD-(L)1 blockade. 138 pts (92%) had failed BV and 111 (74%) autologous HSCT. The best overall response to PD-(L)1 mAbs was CR for 62 pts (41%), PR for 55 (37%), SD for 17 (11%), PD for 15 (10%) and unknown for 1 (1%). Median time from last dose of PD-(L)1 mAb to alloHSCT was 80 days (range, 17-756) with 70 pts (47%) receiving intervening systemic therapy. At alloHSCT, 90 pts were in CR (60%), 45 in PR (30%), 5 in SD (3%), and 10 in PD (7%). Donors were haploidentical (n=71, 47%), matched sibling (n=29, 19%), matched unrelated (n=39, 26%), mismatched unrelated (n=7, 5%), cord blood (n=2, 1%), or unknown (n=2, 1%). Stem cell source was bone marrow (n=38, 25%), peripheral blood (n=110, 73%), or cord blood (n=2, 1%). GVHD prophylaxis included PTCy in 88 pts (59%) (69/71 (97%) with haploidentical donors; 19/79 (24%) with other donors). With a median post-alloHSCT follow-up for survivors of 23.8 months (range, 1-67), the 2y OS and PFS were 79% (95CI 71-86%) and 65% (95CI 55-73%), respectively, while the 2y CumIncs of relapse and NRM were 21% (95CI 13-29%) and 14%, (95CI, 8-22%), respectively (Fig. 1A-B). 27 pts have died, 3 due to disease and 24 to NRM, including aGVHD (n=7) and VOD (n=2). Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) occurred in 5 pts (day 100 CumInc 4%) and 29 pts (19%) developed CRS (grade 1 n=16; grade 2 n=7; grade 3 n=4; grade 4 n=2). The 6-month CumIncs of grade 2-4, grade 3-4 and grade 4 aGVHD were 39%, 16% and 8%, respectively. Hyperacute GVHD (onset ≤ 14 days after alloHSCT) occurred in 4% of pts and was fatal in 2 pts. The 2y CumInc of cGVHD was 45%. Neither receipt of > 10 doses (median) of anti-PD-(L)1 mAb nor undergoing alloHSCT ≤80 days (median) after last dose of PD-(L)1 mAb were associated with PFS or OS. However, pts with a shorter time to transplant (≤80 days) appeared to have a higher risk of severe (grade 3-4) aGVHD (6m CumInc 24% vs 9%, p=0.006). Recipients of PTCy in this cohort had lower 2y CumIncs of cGVHD (34% vs 58%, p=0.01) and relapse (12% vs 31%, p=0.02), superior 2y PFS (76% vs 54%, p=0.015), and similar rates of severe aGVHD (15% vs 18%, p=0.5), 2y NRM (12% vs 16%, p=0.5), and 2y OS (82% vs 78%, p=0.6). Conclusions: With extended follow-up of a large international cohort, our results argue that alloSCT performed after PD-(L)1 mAbs is a feasible strategy associated with an excellent PFS and a very low CIR for this disease. The use of PT-Cy appears to be associated with improved outcomes and may at present represent the optimal transplant strategy in this pt population. Figure Disclosures Corradini: kite: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; KiowaKirin: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Ho:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Omeros Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Jaglowski:Kite: Consultancy, Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy, Other: advisory board; Unum Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding. Herrera:Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Immune Design: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding. Blaise:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Pierre Fabre medicaments: Honoraria; Molmed: Consultancy, Honoraria. Hamadani:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Sanofi Genzyme: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Research Funding; Otsuka: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Medimmune: Consultancy, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy. Ansell:LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding. Nieto:Astra-Zeneca: Research Funding; Affimed: Consultancy; Affimed: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Feldman:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Portola Pharma: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Research Funding; Eisai: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; Cell Medica: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Corvus: Research Funding; Viracta: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. McGuirk:ArticulateScience LLC: Other: Assistance with manuscript preparation; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Kite Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Pluristem Ltd: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding. Mohty:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding. Stamatoulas Bastard:Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy. Houot:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Merck Sharp Dohme: Honoraria. Manson:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Orvain:Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel & accommodations; Pfizer: Other: Travel & accommodations. Bouabdallah:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Frigault:Novartis: Consultancy; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria; Nkarta: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Juno/Celgene: Consultancy; Foundation Medicine: Consultancy; Xenetic: Consultancy. Chen:Takeda: Consultancy; Kiadis: Consultancy; Magenta: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Lynch:T.G. Therapeutics: Research Funding; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals S.A: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Johnson Graffe Keay Moniz & Wick LLP: Consultancy. Smith:AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp: Consultancy, Research Funding; Acerta Pharma BV: Research Funding; Portola Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb (spouse): Research Funding; Denovo Biopharma: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Ignyta (spouse): Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Ayala (spouse): Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Byrne:Karyopharm: Research Funding. Cohen:Hutchison: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.: Research Funding; Gilead/Kite: Consultancy; Genentech, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; UNUM: Research Funding; ASH: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Lymphoma Research Foundation: Research Funding. Svoboda:AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Celgene: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kyowa: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Santoro:Bayer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Speakers Bureau; Arqule: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau; Abb-Vie: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy; Lilly: Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Speakers Bureau; Eisai: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Armand:Sigma Tau: Research Funding; Otsuka: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Tensha: Research Funding; Affimed: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Adaptive: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Infinity: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding. Zinzani:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Portola: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Immune Design: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celltrion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; Eusapharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Verastem: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Kyowa Kirin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Carlo-Stella:Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodations; Genenta Science srl: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Janssen Oncology: Honoraria; MSD: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Janssen: Other: Travel, accommodations; Takeda: Other: Travel, accommodations.

In Multiple myeloma (MM) no treatment has a curative potential and even complete response to novel agents such as proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs) are followed by relapse over time. Next generation sequencing (NGS) has showed how MM at diagnosis is defined by several somatic mutations, but only few drivers, even fewer "druggable" mutations, and many found at a subclonal level. At relapse, targeted studies have shown occasional mutations in drug target genes but the genomic and transcriptomic determinants of chemoresistance in MM remains elusive. We selected 42 MM patients refractory to both lenalidomide and PIs. Whole exome sequencing was performed in 40 of them, and RNAseq in 27. Clinical annotation was available for all patients. Standard analysis pipelines where applied to analyze mutations, copy number alterations (CNAs), mutational signatures, gene expression and expressed mutations. Patients received a median of 3 lines of treatment, with median overall survival of 14.6 months from sampling. We found a median of 77.5 mutations per patient, which is more than what reported at diagnosis (Bolli et al, Nature Communications 2014;5:2997). 100% of samples showed evidence of subclonality, and 37% of them exhibited a higher number of subclonal than clonal variants. Therefore, even at this advanced stage the MM genome is evolving and is composed of different subclones that may display different chemosensitivity. The mutational landscape was also different. TP53 mutations were the second most common after KRAS (20% and 17.5%, respectively). Interestingly TP53 mutations all clustered in patients receiving bortezomib as the last line of treatment. Only 2 patients showed a CRBN mutation, both subclonal. Combining mutations and CNA analysis, the TP53 pathway was the most frequently inactivated (45% of patients). Altogether, mutations or deletions of genes in the CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase complex were found in 32.5% of patients, while proteasomal subunit genes were infrequently hit. Refractory cases were also uniquely characterized by a novel signature linked to exposure to alkylating agents, whose activity was more pronounced after high-dose melphalan suggesting a mutagenic effect of the drug on residual cells at the time of transplant. Whether this has any pathogenetic role on the disease course remains to be elucidated. RNAseq analysis did not show any influence of treatment or mutational data on the clustering of samples, which was mainly influenced by karyotypic events. The main cluster was composed by non-hyperdiploid patients with both amp(1q) and del(13): these showed CCND2 and MCL1 upregulation, the latter representing a marker of venetoclax resistance and novel target of experimental treatments. Only 26.3% of mutations were expressed, and this correlated with the clonality level of the mutation. However, most mutations in driver genes were expressed, with the notable exception of those causing nonsense mediated decay. Overall, classical high-risk features or CRBN pathway mutations were found in 65% of the cohort. However, only amp(1q) predicted survival in our cohort. The lack of prognostic value of high-risk lesions is likely explained by a higher prevalence of such features in double-refractory stages. Our data suggest that gene mutation is not a preferred mode of evolution of drug resistance in MM. Chemoresistance of the bulk tumor population is likely attained though differential, yet converging evolution of different subclones that are overall highly variable from patient to patient and within the same patient. Disclosures Kastritis: Prothena: Honoraria; Genesis: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Dimopoulos:Sanofi Oncology: Research Funding. Cavo:bms: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accommodations, Speakers Bureau; sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; novartis: Honoraria; takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accommodations, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Corradini:Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Jazz Pharmaceutics: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Amgen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; KiowaKirin: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; BMS: Other: Travel Costs; Sanofi: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs. Bolli:Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Gilead: Other: travel expenses.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation still represents a common complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and is associated with increased non-relapse mortality (NRM) and reduced overall survival (OS). Patients receiving T cell-replete haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) with high dose post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) are considered at higher risk of developing CMV reactivation due to their particular immuno-suppressed status. Letermovir was recently shown to significantly reduce the frequency of CMV reactivation in a phase 3 clinical trial. We decided to perform a retrospective analysis among patients treated with haplo-SCT with PT-Cy in order to identify whether every patients should receive CMV prophylaxis with letermovir or it is possible to identify a particular subgroup that may benefit more of prophylactic treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 513 consecutive patients receiving Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy at our institutions between April 2009 and December 2018. Median age was 56 years old (range 15-77), main diagnosis was represented by acute myeloid leukemia (31%), Hodgkin lymphoma (22%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (21%) and myelodisplastic syndrome (12%). Donor/recipient CMV serostatus was as follows: neg/neg (G1) 16%, pos/pos (G2) 50%, pos/neg (G3) 12% and neg/pos (G4) 22%. Conditioning regimen was non-myeloablative/reduced intensity in 90% of the cases, graft source was represented by bone marrow for 25% of the patients. Results: With a median follow-up of 35 months, 3-year OS was 57%, 3-year NRM 24% and 3-year graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD)/relapse free survival (GRFS) 43%. 180-days cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 acute GVHD was 23% and 2-year moderate-severe chronic GVHD was 9%. Median day of CMV reactivation was 41 days (range 10-275), 100-days and 1-year cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation was 43% and 48%, respectively. Cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation was more common among seropositive recipients: G1 1% vs G2 60% vs G3 32% vs G4 67% (Table I, p Conclusion: Recipient positive CMV serostatus is associated with increased risk of CMV reactivation, increased rate of NRM and worse GRFS. CMV reactivation is associated with increased risk of developing grade 2-4 acute GVHD and higher NRM. We conclude that also in the platform of haplo-SCT with PT-Cy, letermovir prophylaxis should be given not to all patients, but mainly to CMV seropositive recipients, that probably may benefit the most in terms of CMV reactivation, acute GVHD incidence and NRM. Disclosures Chabannon: Gilead: Other: speaker's fees, hospitalities; Sanofi SA: Other: research support, speaker's fees, hospitalities; Novartis: Other: speaker's fees; Celgene: Other: speaker's fees; Terumo BCT: Other: speaker's fees; Miltenyi Biotech: Other: research support; Fresenius Kabi: Other: research support; EBMT: Other: Working Party Chair, Board member. Carlo-Stella:Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Genenta Science srl: Consultancy; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodations; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; MSD: Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Janssen Oncology: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Janssen: Other: Travel, accommodations; Takeda: Other: Travel, accommodations. Santoro:Bayer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Speakers Bureau; Eisai: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Lilly: Speakers Bureau; Arqule: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Abb-Vie: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau. Blaise:Pierre Fabre medicaments: Honoraria; Molmed: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria.

We investigated the relationship between the International Prognostic Scoring System of the International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment and the European Consensus on grading of bone marrow fibrosis (MF) in patients with primary myelofibrosis. We compared them in 196 consecutive primary myelofibrosis patients (median follow-up 45.7 months; range 7.4-159). International Prognostic Scoring System classified 42 cases as low risk, 73 as intermediate risk-1, 69 as intermediate risk-2, and 12 as high risk; European Consensus on grading of bone marrow fibrosis classified 83 cases as MF-0, 58 as MF-1, 41 as MF-2, and 14 as MF-3. By the time of the analysis, 30 patients (15.3%) had died. Overall median survival was 3.8 years (95% confidence interval: 3.3-4.3). Multivariate analysis confirmed that both scoring systems independently predicted survival, with hazard ratios similar to those provided by univariate analysis (respectively, 2.40 (95% confidence interval: 1.47-3.91) and 2.58 (95% confidence interval: 1.72-3.89) but the likelihood ratio increased from 19.6 of the International Prognostic Scoring System or 29.0 of the European Consensus on grading of bone MF to 42.3 when both measures were considered together. Analysis of the overall survival curves documented that patients classified as having the most favourable rate with both prognostic scores (ie low risk and MF-0) survive longer than those with only one favourable score (ie low risk but MF >0 or MF-0, but International Prognostic Scoring System >low risk). In contrast, those patients classified as having the most unfavourable rate for both scores (high risk and MF-3) have a shorter survival than those with only one unfavourable score (ie high risk but MF

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (allo-HCT) currently represents the only potentially curative therapy for patients affected by advanced Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL). Haploidentical HCT (haplo-HCT) allows virtually all patients to proceed to allo-HCT. We analyzed survival outcomes of 20 MCL patients who received haplo-HCT at Humanitas Cancer Center and Institut Paoli Calmettes between 2012 and 2017. Median age of patients at transplant was 64 years (range, 35-71). Ten of them (50%) relapsed after autologous transplantation, one patient relapsed after allo-HCT (HLA identical sibling), while 9 underwent directly haplo-HCT due to the high risk of relapse (primary refractory disease). All patients except one had chemosensitive disease at transplant (75% complete response, 20% partial response, 5% progressive disease). In 10 patients, novel drugs were used as bridge to transplant to obtain response (8 patients were treated with ibrutinib, one with lenalidomide and one with bortezomib). The hematopoietic-cell-transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI) was 0-1 in 4 patients, 2-3 in 12 patients and 4-5 in 4 of them. In 5 patients bone marrow was used as the source of stem cells, while the other 15 received peripheral blood stem cells. Sixteen patients received a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen while 4 patients underwent a reduced intensity conditioning regimen. In all patients, post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) was used as graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Acute GVHD (aGVHD) was observed in 9 patients (grade I 2 patients, grade II 6 patients, grade III-IV 1 patient) at a median of 34 days from transplant (range, 21-80). The cumulative incidence of aGVHD grade 2-4 was 30% (95% CI, 12% to 51%) at 6 months. Three patients developed chronic GVHD (cGVHD) (1 mild, 1 moderate and 1 severe). The cumulative incidence at 2 years of moderate-severe cGVHD was 11% (95% CI, 2% to 30%). With a median follow-up of 22 months (range 5-73 months), relapse or progression were observed in 2 patients at a median of 6 months (range, 3-8 months) from haplo-HCT with a cumulative incidence of disease relapse/progression of 11% (95% CI, 2% to 29%) at 3 years. The GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS) at 1 year was 68% (95% CI, 42% to 84%). Three deaths were attributed to toxicity and occurred at a median of 123 days (range, 17-274 days) after transplant. The specific causes of death were: aGVHD, 1; infection, 1; cGVHD 1. The cumulative incidence of NRM was 16% (95% CI, 4% to 36%) at 3 years. The 3-years progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 73% (95% CI, 47% to 88%) and 71% (95% CI, 43% to 77%), respectively. Comparing this cohort with a similar cohort of 20 MCL patients who underwent allo-HCT from HLA identical sibling or unrelated donors in the same centers during the same time frame, the clinical outcomes (GRFS, NRM, PFS and OS) were not statistically different, even if there was a trend for better outcomes using haploidentical donor. In conclusion, our study suggests that haplo-HCT with PT-Cy in MCL patients is feasible and is associated with a low relapse rate and NRM, even in the era of new drugs. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Carlo-Stella: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; Genenta Science: Speakers Bureau; MSD Italia: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Boehringher Ingelheim Italia: Consultancy; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding.

Introduction: Phase 1/2 trials using the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) checkpoint inhibitors Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab in relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R cHL) who had failed autologous-SCT (Auto-SCT) showed high response rates and durable responses in the majority of patients. However, with extended follow-up, progression-free survival (PFS) curves from the CheckMate 205 trial failed to show a plateau, thus suggesting the need for a consolidation therapy in cHL responding to anti-PD-1. Reported here is the retrospective analysis of the outcome of 34 cHL patients who received an Allo-SCT after treatment with PD-1 inhibitors. Patients and Methods: From Nov 2014 to Apr 2017, 44 R/R cHL enrolled in the CA209-205, CA209-254 and MK3475087trials(median age, 31 years; range, 18-81) received nivolumab (n=42) or pembrolizumab (n=2) until complete remission (CR), very good partial remission (PR) defined as a tumor burden reduction >80%, or progressive disease (PD).At study entry, 30 patients (84%) had refractory disease, 39 (89%) had failed BV and 38 (86%) Auto-SCT. Tumor assessment was performed according to Cheson et al (JCO, 2014). Non-relapse mortality (NRM) was defined as death by any reason other than disease progression. Cumulative incidence of relapse, NRM, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: After a median duration of anti-PD-1 therapy of 10 months (range, 3-33), 18 patients (41%) experienced CR or PR whereas 26 (59%) progressed. Sixteen of 18 responding patients were allografted. Eighteen of 26 patients who progressed during anti-PD-1 therapy received additional chemotherapy and were finally allografted. Overall, 34 of 44 patients were allografted. Allografting was not performed due to age (n=1), PD (n=4), patient refusal (n=5). The median time from last nivolumab to Allo-SCT was 49 days (range, 23 - 372). At Allo-SCT, 22 patients (65%) were in CR, 11 (32%) in PR and 1 (3%) in PD. Donors were haploidentical sibling (n=23), matched sibling (n=5), or matched unrelated (n=6). Stem cell source was bone marrow (n=15) and peripheral blood (n=19).Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was recorded in 15 patients.The cumulative incidence (CI) of grade 2-4 and grade 3-4 aGVHD at 100 days was 46% and 12%, respectively; the 2-year CI of cGVHD was 27%. Non-infectious complications including febrile syndrome, macrophage activation syndrome and cytokine release syndrome, as well as infectious complications occurring until day +100 post-allografting are detailed in a companion abstract.With a median follow-up of 18 months (range, 1.8-39.3), one patient died due to relapse and 5 to non-relapse mortality (NRM) [(acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGVHD) (n=1), CMV pneumonia (n=1), immune-mediated pneumonia (n=1) heart failure (n=1), post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) (n=1)]. The 2-year cumulative incidence (CI) of relapse and NRM was 3.1% and 19.7%, respectively. The 2-year OS and PFS were 76% and 76%, respectively. Conclusions: With an extended follow-up, data reported herein clearly show that Allo-SCT performed after PD-1 inhibitors or the sequence PD-1 inhibitors/chemotherapy is a feasible consolidation strategy associated with an unprecedented low relapse incidence. Early transplant-related complications prompt at identification and implementation of risk-minimizing strategies. PD-1 inhibitors eventually combined with salvage chemotherapy and Allo-SCT represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of refractory cHL. Disclosures Carlo-Stella: Boehringher Ingelheim Italia: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; MSD Italia: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Genenta Science: Speakers Bureau; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau.

We report a case of excellent response to nilotinib in a 22 years old man with chronic myeloid leukemia in suboptimal response to imatinib. After diagnosis he started cytoreductive therapy with cytarabine and hydroxyurea, then he begun therapy with imatinib 400 mg/day. After 3 months of treatment, he obtained a complete hematologic response (CHR) and a minor cytogenetic response (minor CyR). At 6 months CHR was confirmed, but bone marrow analysis showed increasing number of Ph+ cells (minimal CyR) and non significant reduction of BCR-ABL levels. According to ELN (European LeukemiaNet) guidelines, this is considered a suboptimal response. Clonal evolution, kinase domain mutations and reduced drug intake were excluded, thus we decided to early switch to nilotinib at 400 mg/BID. After 3 months of treatment we obtained a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and a strong reduction of BCR-ABL transcript, almost reaching a major molecular response (MMR).