We report long-term outcome in 102 patients with cCML transplanted from an HLA-identical sibling donor from 1982 to 1998. The conditioning regimen was based on cyclophosphamide associated with either total body irradiation (TBI) (37 patients) or with busulfan (63 patients). Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin and methotrexate in the majority of the patients. Fifteen year overall survival was estimated at 53% (95% confidence interval (CI), 44-65) with a plateau after 2.5 years. Long-term survival was adversely affected by: longer time from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) diagnosis to transplantation, older age at time of transplantation and GvHD (acute grade III-IV or chronic extensive). The main cause of death was infection, related to GvHD in 69% of patients. Splenectomy also significantly increased the risk of bacterial infection. 15-year relapse was estimated at 8% (95% CI, 0.1-14). Late malignancies occurred in seven patients, four of whom had an invasive cancer. Other frequent late complications included cataracts, psychological depression, osteonecrosis and hypothyroidism. These complications were more frequent following splenectomy, TBI and in patients with chronic extensive GvHD. We conclude that allogeneic transplantation with a related donor can cure more than half of CML patients in chronic phase, although physicians should be alert to long-term complications.

To examine the relation of noncontraceptive estrogen use to the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women, the authors conducted a case-control study: 1,686 cases were compared with 2,077 hospital control subjects, of whom 1,120 had non-gynecologic cancers and 957 had nonmalignant (also non-gynecologic) conditions. Data were obtained from 1980 to 1986, by interview of subjects in hospitals in the United States and Canada. The relative risk estimate for any use of replacement estrogens unopposed by progestogens was 1.2 (95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.0-1.4), after adjustment for age and type of menopause; when all known risk factors for breast cancer were taken into account in a multivariate analysis, the estimate was similar. For use of at least 15 years duration, the estimate was 0.9 (95% Cl 0.5-1.9). Most of the unopposed use was of conjugated estrogens: overall, the relative risk (95% Cl) was 1.3 (1.0-1.6); for durations of 15 or more years, it was 0.9 (0.4-1.9); for use of 5 years followed by a latent interval of 15 or more years, it was 1.3 (0.7-2.4); and for current use it was 1.1 (0.7-1.6). There was no evidence of increased breast cancer risk when the conjugated estrogen users were divided according to dose. There was little use of estrogens opposed by progestogens; the relative risk estimate was 1.7 (95% Cl 0.9-3.3). The results of this large study provide no evidence that the use of unopposed conjugated estrogens increases the risk of breast cancer, even after long durations of use or long latent intervals, but the possibility of a modest increase (less than a doubling) could not be excluded. There were insufficient data to evaluate the effects of nonconjugated estrogens and of combined estrogen and progestogen therapy.

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic progressive hematologic malignancy with a median overall survival (OS) of approximately 6 years. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the sole treatment approach that offers curative potential. The use of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens has expanded the application of HSCT to patients with MF up to age 70 years. Recent retrospective and prospective reports have suggested worse HSCT outcomes for patients with MF receiving an unrelated donor graft compared with those receiving a related donor graft. To identify patient- and HSCT-specific variables influencing outcomes, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 42 patients with chronic and advanced-phase MF who underwent HSCT at our institution. For this cohort, at a median follow-up of 43 months, progression-free survival (PFS) was 15 months and OS was 25 months. In multivariable analysis, the sole clinical variable that negatively influenced outcome was the use of an unrelated donor, with a median PFS and OS both of 11 months versus not yet reached in patients receiving a related donor graft. At 2 years, OS was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20%-56%) and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 53% (95% CI, 36%-78%) in the unrelated donor graft group, compared with 75% (95% CI, 46%-90%) and 21% (95% CI, 9%-47%) in the related donor graft group. There was no difference in the rates of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease between the unrelated and related donor groups (38% versus 38%). Despite a more aggressive disease state, 2-year PFS and OS were both 42% (95% CI, 15%-67%) in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm-blast phase undergoing HSCT. Graft failure rate was higher in patients receiving a mismatched donor graft compared with those receiving a matched donor graft (60% versus 13%; P = .0398). Retransplantation of patients with graft failure resulted in long-term survival. Baseline splenomegaly did not affect transplantation outcomes. Given the particularly poor outcomes seen in the unrelated donor cohort here and elsewhere, a formal exploration of alternative hematopoietic stem cell sources is warranted.

Interrogation of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) represents an emerging approach to non-invasively estimate disease burden in multiple myeloma (MM). Here, we examined low-pass whole genome sequencing (LPWGS) of cfDNA for its predictive value in relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). We observed that cfDNA positivity, defined as ≥10% tumor fraction by LPWGS, was associated with significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in an exploratory test cohort of 16 patients who were actively treated on diverse regimens. We prospectively determined the predictive value of cfDNA in 86 samples from 45 RRMM patients treated with elotuzumab, pomalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone in a phase II clinical trial ( NCT02718833 ). PFS in patients with tumor-positive and -negative cfDNA after two cycles of treatment was 1.6 and 17.6 months, respectively (HR 7.6, P<0.0001). Multivariate hazard modelling confirmed cfDNA as independent risk factor (HR 96.6, P=6.92e-05). While correlating with serum-free light chains and bone marrow, cfDNA additionally discriminated patients with poor PFS among those with the same response by IMWG criteria. In summary, detectability of MM-derived cfDNA, as a measure of substantial tumor burden with therapy, independently predicts poor PFS and may provide refinement for standard-of-care response parameters to identify patients with poor response to treatment earlier than is currently feasible.

Background Elotuzumab is an approved monoclonal antibody targeting SLAMF7 on plasma and NK cells that enhances the activity of lenalidomide, pomalidomide, and bortezomib in multiple myeloma (MM). A recent study showed improved outcomes with the combination of pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone vs. bortezomib and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory MM (Richardson PG et al., Lancet Oncol 2019). We therefore studied elotuzumab with pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (elo-PVD) in relapsed and refractory MM. Methods The primary objective was to determine the overall response rate (ORR). Patients with relapsed and refractory disease and ≥1 prior lines of treatment (including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor) were eligible to participate. Prior treatment with pomalidomide was permitted. Elotuzumab was weekly for the first 2 cycles and then every other week. Pomalidomide was given on days 1-21; bortezomib was on days 1, 8, 15; and dexamethasone was weekly. Each cycle was 28 days. Results The trial has completed accrual in September 2018 with 48 patients receiving treatment. The median age was 64 (range 40-80), and median number of prior regimens was 3 (range 1-9); 25% had high risk FISH. All patients had prior lenalidomide and proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib 96%, 29% carfilzomib) and were refractory to their last line of therapy. Other prior therapies included: autologous stem cell transplant (48%), pomalidomide (33%), daratumumab (25%), and isatuximab (4%). 46 patients were assessable for response (2 patients did not complete cycle 1 and were not evaluable for response: 1 due to rapid disease progression; 1 stroke. The median length of follow up was 18.8 months (range 0.5-23.4): 16 patients continue on study; 27 patients discontinued for progressive disease; 3 patients discontinued for adverse events (AEs) (sepsis, pneumonia, stroke); 1 patient underwent auto SCT; and 1 patient was lost to follow up. Best ORR was 61% (PR = 16, VGPR = 10, CR = 2). ORR for patients with prior anti-CD38 antibody, 46%; carfilzomib, 46%; pomalidomide, 43%. Median PFS was 9.8 months (95% CI 6.8-Inf). In patients with 1 prior line of therapy, ORR was 74% and median PFS was not reached (95% CI 12-Inf); 18 month PFS was 68%. Grade ≥ 3 hematologic AEs included anemia (10%), neutropenia (29%), and thrombocytopenia (15%). Additional common grade ≥ 3 AEs included lung infection (27%) and hypophosphatemia (15%). Common non-hematologic AEs all grades included fatigue (grade 1-2 only, 70%), upper respiratory infection (grade 1-2, 56%; grade 3, 2%), diarrhea (grade 1-2 only, 42%), constipation (grade 1-2 only, 35%), hyperglycemia (grade 1-2, 46%; grade 3, 4%), and sensory neuropathy (grade 1-2 only, 31%), with 2 possibly related deaths (sepsis, pneumonia). Conclusions Elo-PVD is one of the first trials of a quadruplet regimen in relapsed and refractory MM incorporating a monoclonal antibody. In patients with refractory disease, elo-PVD shows encouraging responses. With the limitations of cross trial comparisons and small patient numbers, for patients with 1 prior line of treatment and refractory disease, a PFS at 18 months of 68% with elo-PVD compares favorably with a median PFS of 17.8 months in a similar subgroup of PVD in the OPTIMISMM trial (Dimopoulos MA et al., ASH 2018). Patients who received prior pomalidomide, carfilzomib, and/or anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody also benefited. Treatment was well-tolerated with manageable toxicity and with attention to infectious AEs. Disclosures Yee: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Adaptive: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Lipe:Celgene: Consultancy; amgen: Research Funding; amgen: Consultancy. Nadeem:Janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy. O'Donnell:Celgene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy. Branagan:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Surface Oncology: Consultancy. Lohr:Celgene: Research Funding; T2 Biosystems: Honoraria. Anderson:Sanofi-Aventis: Other: Advisory Board; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Other: Scientific Founder; Oncopep: Other: Scientific Founder; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Richardson:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Raje:Amgen Inc.: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: The combination of elotuzumab, pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone is an off-label use in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract