Long-Term Follow-up Results: A Phase 2 Trial of Imatinib Mesylate As Maintenance Therapy for Patients with Newly Diagnosed c-Kit Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Abstract

The c-kit (CD117) receptor is expressed on > 10% blasts in 64% of de novo AMLs and mediates proliferation and anti-apoptotic effects. High c-kit levels [defined as mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) > 20] correlate with a shorter time to relapse and decreased overall survival (OS). Imatinib mesylate (IM), a c-kit inhibitor, has activity against relapsed/ refractory AML. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether adding maintenance IM for 1 yr after completion of standard induction (IT) and post-remission therapy (PRT) in pts with newly diagnosed c-kit + AML improves progression-free survival (PFS) compared to historical controls. We previously presented our toxicity and correlative data at ASH 2012 (Abstract 3597). Here, we present our long term follow-up results. Methods: Pts were treated at Cleveland Clinic, Duke, Roswell Park, and University Hospitals of Cleveland from 2008 to 2012. IM was supplied by Novartis. Eligibility criteria: pts age ≥ 18 yrs, AML in first complete remission (CR1), ≥ 20% c-kit+ blasts at diagnosis (dx), ECOG performance status 0-2. Cytogenetics (CG) were classified per CALGB 8461. Pts must have received IT (7+3 [continuous infusion cytarabine and an anthracycline] or ADE [cytarabine, daunorubicin, etoposide]) and PRT (≥ 1 course for pts ≥ 60 yrs; ≥ 2 courses for pts Results: Of 32 pts enrolled, the median age was 54 yrs (range 19-81), median WBC at dx 22.13 K/ uL (1.55-98.44), median peripheral blood blasts at dx 23.6% (range 0-85), and 44% were male. CG risk included: 16% (5) good, 66% (21) intermediate, 16% (5) poor, 3% (1) miscellaneous. Of the pts with normal CG, 10 were NPM1+, FLT3 ITD negative; and 1 pt was FLT3 ITD+. The median c-kit+ blast % was 79.9, and median c-kit MFI 39.8 (range 6.5-120.1). Median AF1q expression was 9.59 (range 1.83-161.85) (> 9 is considered high and is associated with a poor prognosis; high AF1q is also associated with high c-kit expression). Eight-four percent of pts had moderate or high levels of drug resistance factors (GST1, MDR1, LRP1, and/or MRP1); almost half (47%) had high expression. There was no correlation between MDR and c-kit MFI. Pts received IM for a median of 4.0 mos (range 0.1-12.2) and the median daily dose was 600 mg. Twelve pts (38%) were dose reduced to 400 mg. Forty-five percent of pts experienced Grade 3 reactions possibly related to treatment, with the majority (31%) being myelosuppression. With a median follow-up time of 56.3 mos, the estimated median OS was 51.3 mos and estimated median relapse-free survival (RFS) 18.9 mos. The estimated PFS at 13 mos for pts Conclusions: Use of IM maintenance therapy appeared to be associated with improved PFS compared to historical controls in pts 20.3 was an independent adverse prognostic factor for RFS and OS (median RFS 10.7 months) in AML, use of IM maintenance therapy in this study appeared to mitigate this, supporting further investigation. Disclosures Off Label Use: imatinib in the treatment of AML. Rao:Boehringer-Ingelheim: Other: Advisory Board; amgen: Other: ad board; novartis: Other: ad board. Rizzieri:Teva: Other: ad board, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Other: ad board, Speakers Bureau. Wang:Immunogen: Research Funding. Griffiths:Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Astex: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria. Sekeres:TetraLogic: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees.