Central Nervous System Relapse Research Articles

Clinical implications of CSF-ctDNA positivity in newly diagnosed diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

The clinical implications of CSF-ctDNA positivity in newly diagnosed diffuse large B cell lymphoma (ND-DLBCL) remains largely unexplored. One hundredND-DLBCL patients were consecutively enrolled as training cohort and another 26 ND-DLBCL patients were prospectively enrolled in validation cohort. CSF-ctDNA positivity (CSF(+)) was identified in 25 patients (25.0%) in the training cohort and 7 patients (26.9%) in the validation cohort, extremely higher than CNS involvement rate detected by conventional methods. Patients with mutations of CARD11, JAK2, ID3, and PLCG2 were more predominant with CSF(+) while FAT4 mutations were negatively correlated with CSF(+). The downregulation of PI3K-AKT signaling, focal adhesion, actin cytoskeleton, and tight junction pathways were enriched in CSF(+) ND-DLBCL. Furthermore, pretreatment CSF(+) was significantly associated with poor outcomes. Three risk factors, including high CSF protein level, high plasma ctDNA burden, and involvement of high-risk sites were used to predict the risk of CSF(+) in ND-DLBCL. The sensitivity and specificity of pretreatment CSF-ctDNA to predict CNS relapse were 100% and 77.3%. Taken together, we firstly present the prevalence and the genomic and transcriptomic landscape for CSF-ctDNA(+) DLBCL and highlight the importance of CSF-ctDNA as a noninvasive biomarker in detecting and monitoring of CSF infiltration and predicting CNS relapse in DLBCL.

The CNS Relapse in T-Cell Lymphoma Index Predicts CNS Relapse in Patients with T- and NK-Cell Lymphomas

Little is known about risk factors for central nervous system (CNS) relapse in mature T- and NK-cell neoplasms (MTNKN). We aimed to describe the clinical epidemiology of CNS relapse in patients with MTNKN and developed the CNS relapseInT-cell lymphomaIndex (CITI) to predict patients at highest risk of CNS relapse. We reviewed data from 135 patients with MTNKN and CNS relapse from 19 North American institutions. After exclusion of leukemic and most cutaneous forms of MTNKN, patients were pooled with non-CNS relapse control patients from a single institution to create a CNS relapse-enriched training set. Using a complete case analysis (N=182), of whom 91 had CNS relapse, we applied a LASSO Cox regression model to select weighted clinicopathologic variables for the CITI score, which we validated in an external cohort from the Swedish Lymphoma Registry (N=566). CNS relapse was most frequently observed in patients with PTCL, NOS (25%). Median time to CNS relapse and median overall survival after CNS relapse was 8.0 months and 4.7 months, respectively. We calculated unique CITI risk scores for individual training set patients and stratified them into risk terciles. Validation set patients with low-risk (N=158) and high-risk (N=188) CITI scores had a 10-year cumulative risk of CNS relapse of 2.2% and 13.4%, respectively (HR 5.24, 95%CI 1.50-18.26, P=0.018). We developed an open-access web-based CITI calculator (https://redcap.link/citicalc) to provide an easy tool for clinical practice. The CITI score is a validated model to predict patients with MTNKN at highest risk of developing CNS relapse.

Isolated central nervous system relapse in two adolescents with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma after treatment with R-DA-EPOCH.

The addition of rituximab to standard regimens for primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) has significantly improved overall survival. However, the optimal management of isolated central nervous system (CNS) relapse and role of CNS prophylaxis remains undefined. We present cases of two adolescents with PMBCL who developed isolated CNS relapses. While isolated CNS relapse may be managed with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant with or without CNS radiotherapy, review of these cases and the literature highlight the need for further work to define risk factors for CNS relapse, and identify patients who may benefit from CNS prophylaxis.

CAR T-cell therapy in mantle cell lymphoma with secondary CNS involvement: a multicenter experience

Secondary central nervous system (CNS) involvement in Mantle cell lymphoma has poor outcomes, with limited data for efficacy of CAR-T therapy. This study reports encouraging response with reasonable safety profile, but risk of CNS relapse remains high in such patients.

Abstract PS11-02: Clinical risk factors of Central Nervous System (CNS)-related death in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

Abstract Background: Central nervous system (CNS) relapse represents a challenge in the management of patients with HER2-positive (+) metastatic breast cancer. Data regarding the impact of brain metastases (BrM) and CNS involvement on mortality are sparse. In this study we sought to determine the proportion of HER2+ MBC patients in which CNS disease is the cause of death and identify risk factors associated with CNS-related mortality. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 294 consecutive patients with HER2+ MBC and diagnosis of CNS disease including parenchymal BrM, leptomeningeal disease (LMD) or dural metastases (DM), treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between August 2010 and April 2022. HER2-positivity was assessed at the first diagnosis of metastatic disease (any site). Clinicopathologic characteristics including disease burden at presentation, timing of CNS disease and extracranial metastases (ECM), neurologic complications, and local and systemic treatments were collected. CNS-related death was defined as any death caused by BrM or LMD or DM progression or CNS treatment-associated complications. CNS-related death was estimated using cumulative incidence in the competing risks setting (with death due to other causes as a competing event) and overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan Meier methodology. Risk factors associated with CNS-related death were assessed using sub-distribution hazards regression modeling. Treatments given after CNS disease diagnosis were treated as time-varying variables. Tests were two-sided with statistical significance < 0.05. Results: After excluding 19 patients (11 for discordant HER2 status, 5 for concomitant second solid tumor, and 3 for missing data), 275 patients were included in these analyses (258 patients with parenchymal BrM +/- LMD, 8 patients with DM only, 2 patients with DM concomitantly with LMD, and 6 patients with LMD only). Overall, 63/275 (23%) presented with CNS as first and only site of metastasis, 210 (76%) patients developed CNS disease synchronously with or following ECM, and 2 had unknown timing. 125/275 (45%) had de novo MBC, and nearly all patients were treated with CNS local therapies (92% ≥1 radiation treatment and 28% underwent ≥1 BrM resection). The median number of lines of systemic therapy after CNS disease diagnosis was 1 (range: 0-14); 105/275 (38%) patients received a HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (lapatinib: 21%, neratinib: 4.4%, and tucatinib: 12%). The median follow-up was 3.6 years for survivors (range: 0.22 years-12 years). 193/275 (70%) patients died, of whom 105 (54%) died of CNS-related cause. The 3-year OS rate was 40% (95% CI=34%-46%), which varied for patients with BrM only at the diagnosis of metastatic disease [56% (95% CI=43%-69%] compared to patients with ECM +/- BrM [35% (95% CI=28%-42%] (p=0.05). The cumulative incidence of CNS-related death at 3 years was 33% (95% CI=27%-39%). Upon univariable modeling, LMD and CNS radiation treatment (RT) were associated with CNS-related death, and these associations remained statistically significant in a multivariable model [LMD: HR=2.49 (95% CI=1.62-3.83), p< 0.0001, and RT: HR=2.91 (95% CI=1.27-6.64), p=0.01]. Conclusions: Greater than half of patients with HER2+ with CNS involvement suffered of CNS-related death, with greatest risk among patients with LMD. We hypothesize that the association between radiotherapy and CNS-related death may reflect upfront response to systemic cancer-directed treatments of those in patients with DM only or limited CNS disease extension. CNS-only relapse at metastatic presentation portended improved survival than intra- plus extracranial progression, supporting an approach of aggressive local therapy for selected patients. Multimodality approaches using HER2-directed agents effective against parenchymal BrM, LMD along with extracranial metastases, in combination with local CNS-directed therapies need to be optimized. Citation Format: Emanuela Ferraro, Rabih Bou Nassif, Anne Reiner, Samantha Brown, Umberto Tosi, Katherine Panageas, Chau Dang, Andrew D Seidman, Nelson Moss. Clinical risk factors of Central Nervous System (CNS)-related death in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS11-02.

Myeloid sarcoma with RAM phenotype in an adult male presenting with CNS relapse; no longer a pediatric disease.

Myeloid sarcoma with RAM phenotype in an adult male presenting with CNS relapse; no longer a pediatric disease.

Prevalence of Central Nervous System Relapse in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Comprehensive Review

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare but serious complication associated with poor outcomes. The prevalence of CNS relapse in DLBCL varies widely in the literature, ranging from 1% to 30%, depending on several risk factors and diagnostic methods. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current literature on the prevalence of CNS relapse in DLBCL, focusing on risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies. Understanding the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of CNS relapse in DLBCL is crucial for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Diagnostic significance of cerebrospinal fluid flow cytometry in Chinese children with B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BackgroundCentral nervous system leukemia (CNSL) is one of the major causes of the poor prognosis of childhood leukemia. We aimed to compare the sensitivity of cytomorphology (CM) and flow cytometry (FCM) in diagnosing CNSL, emphasizing the importance of FCM in the diagnosis process.MethodsOne-hundred-sixty-five children with newly diagnosed B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-cell ALL) were included in this study. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were taken for routine CSF analysis, CM analysis, and FCM examination. Computed tomography scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging were performed at diagnosis. Patients with CNS2, CNS3, and traumatic lumbar puncture (TLP) at diagnosis received two additional courses of triple intrathecal injections during induction treatment. We compared the sensitivity of FCM and CM in the diagnosis of children with CNSL.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-eight (77.58%) CSF samples were negative by either CM or FCM (CM−/FCM−), four (2.42%) were positive by both CM and FCM (CM+/FCM+), and thirty-three (20%) displayed a single positive finding by FCM (CM−/FCM+) (p = 0.044). By adding two intrathecal injections in the induction treatment, ten children with TLP+ had no CNS relapse, like those with TLP−. However, compared to CNS1 and TLP, the event-free survival (EFS) did not significantly improve in patients with CNS2 and CNS3. Moreover, CNSL status was associated with worse 3-year EFS (p < 0.05).ConclusionsWe have validated that FCM is more accurate in stratifying the status of the CNS compared to CM analysis. However, to improve the EFS rate of childhood leukemia, it is necessary to combine CM examination, FCM, and cranial imaging for the early diagnosis of CNSL.

Efficacy of intravenous high-dose methotrexate in preventing relapse to the central nervous system in R-CHOP(-like)-treated, high-risk, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients and its effect on mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To evaluate: 1) whether addition of prophylactic intravenous HD-MTX reduces the risk of CNS relapse in high-risk DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP or similar and 2) whether HD-MTX prophylaxis confers an overall survival benefit, irrespective of CNS relapse. A systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE on DLBCL patients at high risk of CNS relapse treated with R-CHOP or similar receiving HD-MTX as intervention and a comparator arm receiving no prophylaxis and/or IT prophylaxis. Risk of Bias was estimated using the ROBINS-I tool and the quality of the evidence by the GRADE approach. Finally, a meta-analysis based on the systematic review was conducted. A total of 1812 studies were screened. No RCT's were identified. Seven observational studies comprising 1661 patients met inclusion criteria. We found a statistically non-significant relative risk of 0.54 [0.27-1.07, 95% CI] of CNS relapse for patients receiving HD-MTX vs. controls. The meta-analysis investigating mortality demonstrated a relative risk of death of 0.70 [0.44-1.11, 95% CI] for HD-MTX treated vs. controls. The overall risk of bias was adjudged as "serious" and the quality of the evidence was rated as low. Our data indicate that HD-MTX does not prevent, or at best, only slightly reduces the risk of CNS relapse and confers no survival benefit.

Incidence and outcome of central nervous system relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a study from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Not available.

Predicting central nervous system relapse in primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma using the stage-modified IPI score: A retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveThe existing Central Nervous System-International Prognostic Index (CNS-IPI) provides insufficient guidance for predicting central nervous system (CNS) relapse in individuals with primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This retrospective cohort study sought to examine the potential of the stage-modified IPI in predicting CNS relapse within this specific patient population. Patients and methodsWe examined the baseline characteristics of 76 consecutive patients diagnosed with primary breast DLBCL, calculating the stage-modified IPI score for each individual. Utilizing a competing risk regression (CRR) model, we conducted both univariate and multivariate analyses to explore the relationship between potential prognostic factors and the occurrence of CNS relapse. ResultsIn our cohort, the rates of CNS disease at 2 and 5 years since the diagnosis of primary breast DLBCL are 3.9% and 7.8%, respectively. Among patients experiencing CNS relapse, 80% presented with a parenchymal brain mass. Individuals with a high stage-modified IPI score (1–3 points) had a significantly higher incidence of CNS relapse (p = 0.031), a shorter time from the initial diagnosis of primary breast DLBCL to the first CNS relapse (p = 0.010), as well as relapse at any site (p = 0.012), compared to those with a low score (0 points). Univariate analysis identified stage (Hazard Ratio (HR): 4.098, p = 0.024), stage-modified IPI score (HR: 11.582, p = 0.012), and radiation therapy (HR: 5.784, p = 0.026) as significant risk factors. In multivariate analysis, in addition to radiation therapy (HR: 7.258, p = 0.012), the stage-modified IPI score (1–3 points versus 0 points) emerged as an independent and reliable predictor for CNS relapse (HR: 12.945, p = 0.016). ConclusionOur study underscores the significance of stage-modified IPI scores in predicting CNS relapse for patients with primary breast DLBCL. Validation of these findings through further research is essential, along with exploring potential prevention and intervention approaches.

Efficacy and Safety of Dose-Escalated Alectinib in Patients With Metastatic ALK-Positive NSCLC and Central Nervous System Relapse on Standard-Dose Alectinib

IntroductionCentral nervous system (CNS) metastases remain a common challenge in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. We previously reported reinduction of CNS responses using dose-intensified alectinib in two patients with CNS progression on standard-dose alectinib. Nevertheless, this strategy has not been assessed in larger cohorts. MethodsPatients were eligible for this retrospective study if they had metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC with CNS relapse on alectinib 600 mg twice daily dosing and subsequently received escalated dosing (900 mg twice daily) of alectinib. CNS efficacy was assessed per the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. ResultsAmong 27 patients, median duration of dose-escalated alectinib was 7.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.8–10.9), with median overall time-to-progression (TTP) of 7.1 months (95% CI: 4.4–9.6). Among 25 CNS response-assessable patients, CNS objective response rate was 12.0% (95% CI: 2.5–31.2) and CNS disease control rate was 92.0% (95% CI: 74.0–99.0), with median CNS duration of disease control of 5.3 months (95% CI: 3.4–8.3) and median CNS TTP of 7.1 months (95% CI: 4.4–9.6). Among four patients with measurable CNS disease at baseline, three experienced a best intracranial response of stable disease and one experienced intracranial partial response with CNS TTP ranging from 4.1 to 7.7 months. No patient required drug discontinuation due to treatment-related adverse event or experienced grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events. ConclusionsDose-intensified alectinib was found to have tolerability and activity in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who experienced CNS relapse on standard-dose alectinib and represents one clinically viable strategy for this population.

Evaluation of Central Nervous System Relapse in Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Receiving Hyper-CVAD Treatment in Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital: Isfahan, 2014-2019.

Background: Recurrence of ALL in the central nervous system, CNS Relapse, is known as a poor prognostic factor. Few studies have been performed on the CNS Relapse in adults with ALL. This study aimed to evaluate the recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the central nervous system, CNS relapse, in adults with ALL. Materials and Methods: Seventy newly diagnosed patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia aged 15 years and older referred to Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital in Isfahan between 2014 and 2019 were included in this study. All patients treated with the Hyper-CVAD regimen underwent prophylaxis for the central nervous system based on the risk of CNS relapse. All study participants with CNS relapse underwent intrathecal chemotherapy. Results: The median age of patients was 34 years. Four patients (5.7%) had primary central nervous system involvement. Out of 70 patients receiving the Hyper-CVAD regimen, 59 (84.2%) achieved complete remission. Of the 59 patients achieving CR, ten (16.94%) developed CNS relapse. The median duration of CR before CNS relapse was 21 weeks. Out of 10 patients with CNS relapse, seven (70%) achieved complete remission. Of seven patients achieving CR in the central nervous system, one had a second recurrence in the central nervous system, but finally achieved CNS complete remission. The median survival of patients after CNS relapse was four months. The results also showed that out of 10 patients with CNS relapse, four (40%) survived one year. Conclusion: This study shows that the prognosis of CNS relapse in adults with ALL has not improved much. Limited studies have been conducted on the recurrence of the central nervous system in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Therefore, further studies on CNS relapse after complete remission of ALL are required to clarify more details.

IELSG30 phase 2 trial: intravenous and intrathecal CNS prophylaxis in primary testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

AbstractPrimary testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PTL) is characterized by high risk of contralateral testis and central nervous system (CNS) relapse. Chemoimmunotherapy with intrathecal (IT) CNS prophylaxis and contralateral testis irradiation eliminates contralateral recurrences and reduces CNS relapses. The IELSG30 phase 2 study investigated feasibility and activity of an intensified IT and IV CNS prophylaxis. Patients with stage I/II PTL who had not received treatment received 2 cycles of IV high-dose methotrexate (MTX) (1.5 g/m2) after 6 cycles of the R-CHOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, every 21 days). IT liposomal cytarabine was administered on day 0 of cycles 2 to 5 of 21-day R-CHOP regimen. Contralateral testis radiotherapy (25-30 Gy) was recommended. Fifty-four patients (median age: 66 years) with stage I (n = 32) or II (n = 22) disease were treated with R-CHOP, 53 received at least 3 doses of IT cytarabine, 48 received at least 1 dose of IV MTX, and 50 received prophylactic radiotherapy. No unexpected toxicity occurred. At a median follow-up of 6 years, there was no CNS relapse; 7 patients progressed, and 8 died, with 5-year progression-free and overall survival rates of 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 79-96) and 92% (95% CI, 81-97), respectively. Extranodal recurrence was documented in 6 patients (in 2 without nodal involvement). In 4 cases, the relapse occurred >6 years after treatment. Causes of death were lymphoma (n = 4), second primary malignancy (n = 1), cerebral vasculopathy (n = 1), unknown (n = 2). Intensive prophylaxis was feasible and effective in preventing CNS relapses. Late relapses, mainly at extranodal sites, represented the most relevant pattern of failure. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00945724.

Patterns and prognostic impact of CNS infiltration in adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is highly associated with central nervous system (CNS) infiltration and can be associated with higher risk of relapse. Conventional cytology (CC) is the traditional method for diagnosing CNS infiltration, although the use of immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (FC) has gained prominence in recent years due to its higher sensitivity. Also, some authors have proposed that CSF contamination by a traumatic lumbar puncture (TLP) could have a clinical impact. This retrospective study accessed the impact of CNS infiltration by CC or FC on overall survival, event-free survival, and relapse rate. In a cohort of 105 newly diagnosed ALL patients, CNS1, CNS2, and CNS3 status were found in 84%, 14%, and 2%, respectively. We found that extramedullary disease at the diagnosis, higher leukocyte counts, and higher blast percentage were associated with a positive CC. Sensitivity and specificity of CC were 53% and 98%, respectively. Three-year overall survival was 42.5%. Conversely, TLP was not associated with a positive CC nor had an impact on relapse rates. In multivariate analysis, a positive CC was associated with an increased relapse rate (HR 2.074, p = 0.037), while its detection by FC did not associate with this endpoint. Survival rates seem to be increasing over the last years by the adoption of a stratified CNS prophylaxis risk strategy. CSF contamination does not represent a major concern according to our report, as it did not increase CNS involvement or relapse rates.

Craniospinal irradiation for CNS leukemia: rates of response and durability of CNS control.

Management of CNS involvement in leukemia may include craniospinal irradiation (CSI), though data on CSI efficacy are limited. We retrospectively reviewed leukemia patients who underwent CSI at our institution between 2009 and 2021 for CNS involvement. CNS local recurrence (CNS-LR), any recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS), CNS PFS, and overall survival (OS) were estimated. Of thirty-nine eligible patients treated with CSI, most were male (59%) and treated as young adults (median 31 years). The median dose was 18Gy to the brain and 12Gy to the spine. Twenty-five (64%) patients received CSI immediately prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant, of which 21 (84%) underwent total body irradiation conditioning (median 12Gy). Among 15 patients with CSF-positive disease immediately prior to CSI, all 14 assessed patients had pathologic clearance of blasts (CNS-response rate 100%) at a median of 23 days from CSI start. With a median follow-up of 48 months among survivors, 2-year PFS and OS were 32% (95% CI 18-48%) and 43% (95% CI 27-58%), respectively. Only 5 CNS relapses were noted (2-year CNS-LR 14% (95% CI 5-28%)), which occurred either concurrently or after a systemic relapse. Only systemic relapse after CSI was associated with higher risk of CNS-LR on univariate analysis. No grade 3 or higher acute toxicity was seen during CSI. CSI is a well-tolerated and effective treatment option for patients with CNS leukemia. Control of systemic disease after CSI may be important for CNS local control. CNS recurrence may reflect reseeding from the systemic space.

Systemic Therapies for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer.

Despite recent advances, HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) remains a largely incurable disease, with resistance to conventional anti-HER2 drugs ultimately unavoidable for all but a small minority of patients who achieve an enduring remission and possibly cure. Over the past two decades, significant advances in our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of HER2-driven oncogenesis have translated into pharmaceutical advances, with the developing of increasingly sophisticated therapies directed against HER2. These include novel, more potent selective HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs); new anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugates; and dual epitope targeting antibodies, with more advanced pharmacological properties and higher affinity. With the introduction of adjuvant T-DM1 for incomplete responders to neoadjuvant therapy, fewer patients are relapsing, but for those who do relapse, disease that may be resistant to standard first- and second-line therapies requires new approaches. Furthermore, the risk of CNS relapse has not been abrogated by current (neo)adjuvant strategies; therefore, current research efforts are being directed towards this challenging site of metastatic disease. In this article, we review the currently available clinical data informing the effective management of HER2-positive breast cancer beyond standard first-line therapy with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and taxanes, and the management of relapse in patients who have already been exposed to both these agents and T-DM1 for early breast cancer (EBC). We additionally discuss novel anti-HER2 targeted agents and combinations in clinical trials, which may be integrated into standard treatment paradigms in the future.

Abstract B154: Safety and preliminary activity of the selective ALK inhibitor NVL-655 in patients with ALK fusion-positive solid tumors

Abstract Background: Oncogenic ALK alterations drive diverse tumor types, including ALK fusions in 3-5% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). While 3 generations (1G, 2G, 3G) of ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are approved globally for ALK fusion-positive (ALK+) NSCLC, they are limited by acquired ALK resistance mutations, CNS relapses, and for the 3G TKI lorlatinib, neurologic adverse events attributed to off-target TRK inhibition. A rationally designed ALK TKI that overcomes these limitations is needed. Preclinically, NVL-655 is a brain-penetrant, ALK-selective, and TRK-sparing TKI that exhibits activity against diverse ALK fusions and resistance mutations, including lorlatinib-refractory compound mutations. Materials and Methods: ALKOVE-1 (NCT05384626) is a global phase 1/2 trial of NVL-655. The ongoing phase 1 dose escalation enrolls patients (pts) with a previously treated ALK+ solid tumor, including NSCLC treated with ≥1 prior 2G or 3G ALK TKI. Primary objectives are to determine the safety/tolerability, recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), and if applicable, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Additional objectives include assessments of pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, and preliminary activity by investigator-assessed tumor response (RECIST v1.1). Data cut: June 12, 2023. Results: 57 pts (54 NSCLC, 3 other solid tumors) received NVL-655 orally at 15-200 mg once daily (QD). Pts previously received a median of 4 (range: 1-8) prior anticancer therapies, including a 2G or 3G ALK TKI (100%); ≥1 2G ALK TKI + lorlatinib (77%); ≥3 ALK TKIs (53%); and chemotherapy (60%). At baseline, 51% had a history of CNS metastases. 47% had known ALK resistance mutations and 32% had compound ALK mutations, as per available local testing or central analyses of baseline circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were generally mild; most frequent were nausea (12%), transaminase elevation (12%), fatigue (9%), and constipation (7%). Grade ≥3 TRAEs were transaminase elevation (n=2), CPK elevation (n=1), and fatigue (n=1). NVL-655 PK analyses demonstrated dose-proportional exposure. Partial responses (PR) were observed in 45% (15/33; 8 pending confirmation) of efficacy-evaluable pts with ALK+ NSCLC (15-150 mg QD), in 65% (11/17) with baseline ALK resistance mutations, and in 41% (12/29) post-lorlatinib, including cases with compound resistance mutations. CNS activity, including complete resolution of CNS metastases, has been observed. ctDNA analyses showed reductions, including clearance, of ALK fusion and mutation variants. Neither the MTD nor RP2D has been identified; phase 1 continues. Conclusions: NVL-655 has been well-tolerated up to 200 mg daily with favorable PK. Preliminary activity has been demonstrated in heavily pretreated pts with ALK+ NSCLC, including those who previously received 2G ALK TKI(s) + lorlatinib, with brain metastases, or with single/compound ALK resistance mutations. Citation Format: Jessica J Lin, Melissa Johnson, Enriqueta Felip, Sai-Hong Ignatius Ou, Benjamin Besse, Christina Baik, Julien Mazieres, Yasir Elamin, Joshua E. Reuss, Anna Minchom, Aurelie Swalduz, Nick Pavlakis, Geoffrey Liu, Shirish Gadgeel, D. Ross Camidge, Jennifer A Green, Junwu Shen, John Soglia, Yuting Sun, Viola W Zhu, Alexander Drilon. Safety and preliminary activity of the selective ALK inhibitor NVL-655 in patients with ALK fusion-positive solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B154.

Incidence of Central Nervous System Relapse in Patients with Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Retrospective Study

Background Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is an uncommon type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Clinicopathologic features are distinct from diffuse large B cell lymphoma, but it shares some clinical and biologic features with Nodular sclerosis classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Central nervous system (CNS) relapse appears to be rare in patients with PMBCL, with limited literature reporting a rate of approximately 1.5% to 4%. We examined the incidence of CNS relapse, treatment approaches and survival outcomes in patients with PMBCL. Methods Patients with newly diagnosed PMBCL seen at Mayo Clinic between 2002 and 2022 were identified using the prospective Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Database. Clinical features, treatment details and outcomes were abstracted from the medical record. Cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was analyzed with death as a competing risk. The association of CNS-IPI, systemic treatment, and CNS prophylaxis approach with CNS relapse rate was analyzed using competing risk models and descriptively. Event-free survival (EFS) for the cohort was defined as time from PMBCL diagnosis to first recorded CNS and/or systemic relapse or death from any cause. Overall survival (OS) was defined as time from PMBCL diagnosis (or CNS relapse) to death from any cause. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results A total of 124 PMBCL cases were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 37 years and 61% were female. The distribution of CNS-IPI was low-risk in 67 (61%), intermediate-risk in 41 (37%), and high-risk in 2 (2%). 64 patients (52%) received R-CHOP and 54 patients (44%) received R-DA-EPOCH as frontline therapy. High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) for CNS prophylaxis was administered to 6 patients (5%), 5 with R-CHOP and 1 with R-DA-EPOCH. 16 patients received intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy (methotrexate and/or cytarabine) for CNS prophylaxis, 3 with R-CHOP and 13 with R-DA-EPOCH. The median follow-up was 56.0 months. The 5-year EFS rate was 75.1% and the 5-year OS rate was 90.7% for the entire cohort. 20 patients had systemic relapse only and 3 had CNS relapse. The cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was 1.84% (95% CI 0.46%-7.17%) at 2 years and 2.92% (95% CI 0.50%-8.84%) at 5 years (Figure 1). No statistically significant association of CNS-IPI, systemic therapy or CNS prophylaxis regimen with CNS relapse rate was found in competing risk models; however, this analysis was limited by a small event number (n=3). Among the 3 patients with CNS relapse, 1 had high-risk CNS-IPI and 2 had intermediate risk. All 3 patients were treated initially with R-CHOP. Two patients did not receive any CNS prophylaxis and 1 patient received IT CNS prophylaxis. All three patients who had CNS relapse were female. Patient #1 was diagnosed at age 48 and had simultaneous CNS and systemic relapse 6 months later. The patient was treated with HD-MTX, temozolomide and rituximab for CNS relapse, and subsequently received multiple therapies for systemic disease including R-DHAP, R-ICE, and died 17 months after CNS relapse. Patient #2 was diagnosed at age 22 and had CNS relapse after 8.7 months, followed by systemic relapse 2 months later. The patient received HD-MTX, temozolomide and rituximab for CNS relapse, followed by systemic and whole-brain radiation therapy (RT) for both systemic and CNS relapse. Subsequently the patient received salvage chemotherapy, autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant for systemic relapse. The patient died 26.8 months after CNS relapse. Patient #3 was diagnosed at age 24 and had systemic relapse after 20.7 months, followed by CNS relapse 5.4 months later. The patient received methotrexate and whole-brain RT following CNS relapse and died 1.2 months after CNS relapse. Besides these 3 patients, we identified 6 PMBCL patients with CNS relapse who were diagnosed at other medical centers and subsequently referred to our institution for management of refractory disease. The survival after CNS relapse was poor, with a median OS of 10.4 months (95% CI 5.6-15.2). Conclusion Our study showed that the CNS relapse rate (1.84% at 2 years and 2.92% at 5 years) was overall low in patients with PMBCL, consistent with previous reports. CNS relapse was associated with poor survival despite aggressive treatment approaches. Novel approaches utilizing biological risk factors for CNS relapse, such as circulating tumor DNA, are needed to identify patients with CNS relapse.

The Outcome of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients with Testicular Involvement - Real World Data

Introduction: Patients (pts) with testicular lymphoma (TL) have an increased risk of central nervous system (CNS) relapse. In rituximab era, the reported incidence vary from 10% (in limited disease) to 25% (advanced disease). More data is needed to guide the managment of TL pts in current era. Optimal strategy for CNS relapse prevention is uncertain. Methods: We studied consecutive pts diagnosed between 2000 and 2022 with testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) prospectively observed in the Czech Lymphoma Study Group Project NiHiL (Clinical Trial gov. NCT03199066). Objectives were to analyze the cumulative incidence of CNS relapse, time to CNS relapse, PFS and OS. The impact of various treatment strategies on CNS relapse was analyzed. Results: We identified 229 pts with testicular involvement: 157 pts with primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) in clinical stage I or II and 72 pts in advanced stage (AD) III or IV. Median age was 70 years (range 33 - 87). Rituximab-based chemotherapy received 192 (83.8%) pts including 127 (81%) cases with PTL. Following localized treatments were used more often in PTL compared to AD: unilateral orchiectomy [148 (94.3%) vs. 47 (65.3%); p &amp;lt; 0.0001], testicular irradiation (RT) [116 (61.7%) vs. 40 (38.7%); p = 0.005]. Most patients (85%) received some form of CNS prophylaxis. There were similar rates in use of prophylactic methotrexate (MTX) between PTL and AD (p = 0.88): intrathecal (i.t.) MTX 64 (40.8%) vs. 29 (40.3%), intravenous (i.v.) MTX with or without cytarabine 20 (12.8%) vs. 7 (9.7%); combined i.t. and i.v. MTX 38 (24.2%) vs. 20 (27.8%). Out of 229 cases 25 (15.9%) PTL and 11 (15.3%) AD pts did not receive any CNS prophylaxis. Median follow-up was 51.8 months.Overall 63 (27.5%) pts relapsed including 14 (6.1%) relapses in CNS. Median time to CNS relapse was 21.9 months and to other systemic relapse was 14.7 months (p = 0.63). The 5-year cumulative incidence of CNS relapse in PTL was 4.55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1 - 28.6) and in AD 12.07% (95% CI 0.8 - 39.6), respectively. In univariate analyses, MTX prophylaxis (i.v. and/or i.t.) and testicular RT had no impact on CNS relapse (p = 0.49 and p = 0.60, respectively). Orchiectomy was the single significant factor associated with lower risk of CNS relapse in PTL (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.11[95% CI 0 - 0.124]; p = 0.001). Rituximab significantly reduced CNS relapse in AD with testicular involvement (HR = 0.1002 [95% CI 0.0 - 0.45]; p = 0.0005). Out of 14 pts with CNS relapse 8 died due to lymphoma progression. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in PTL was significantly better when compared to AD (PFS 92.9 vs. 28.1 months, p &amp;lt; 0.0006; OS 108.7 vs. 56.7 months, p = 0.0002). Median PFS2 and OS2 since CNS relapse was dismal in AD compared to PTL (PFS2 1.6 vs. 37.8 months, p = 0.04 and OS2 2.3 vs. 37.8 months, p = 0.05). Conclusions: The rate of CNS relapses in PTL and advanced disease with testicular involvement is lower than previously reported. This study confirmed a significant favorable impact of rituximab in prevention of CNS relapse. Notably, methotrexate prophylaxis i.v. or i.t. did not alter the CNS relapse risk. Prognosis of CNS relapse is particularly poor in advanced disease. This work was supported by grant AZV NU21-03-00411 from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and by the Cooperatio Program, research area “Oncology and Haematology”