First-line Induction Chemotherapy Research Articles

Real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes after introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors: Results from a retrospective chart review of patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in the EU5.

Real-world evidence is increasingly used to guide treatment and regulatory decisions for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK (EU5) were assessed. This retrospective physician-completed patient chart review assessed treatment patterns (regimen, duration of treatment [DOT], time to discontinuation), and clinical outcomes (duration of response [DOR], progression-free survival [PFS], and overall survival [OS]) of patients with stage IIIB/C or IV NSCLC who received pembrolizumab-based first-line induction chemotherapy. Overall, 322 patients were included; at first-line maintenance (1LM), 92% had stage IV NSCLC, 68% had nonsquamous histology, and 89% had no central nervous system (CNS)/brain metastasis. The two most common 1LM regimens were pembrolizumab monotherapy (76% overall) and pembrolizumab + pemetrexed (21% overall). Docetaxel monotherapy was the most common second-line regimen in all countries except Germany (54% overall). For 1LM therapy, the overall median DOT and DOR were 5 and 10 months, respectively; PFS was 7 months and OS was 8 months. Germany had a longer duration of each outcome except for DOR which was longer in Spain. Clinical outcomes were generally poorer for patients with squamous histology and CNS/brain metastases. This study demonstrated differences in treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in NSCLC across the EU5 and patient subgroups. Improved survival was generally associated with response to first-line therapy, nonsquamous histology, and CNS/brain metastases absence. These real-world data provide valuable insights which may aid treatment decision-making and clinical trial design.

First-line induction chemotherapy with high-dose methotrexate versus teniposide in patients with newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma: a retrospective, multicenter cohort study

BackgroundThis study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) versus teniposide (TEN) in patients with newly diagnosed immunocompetent primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs).MethodsThe study included immunocompetent, adult patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL at 22 centers in China from 2007 to 2016. The patients received HD-MTX or TEN as first-line induction therapy. The objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival were analyzed for each patient cohort.ResultsA total of 96 patients were eligible: 62 received HD-MTX, while 34 received teniposide. The overall response rate was 73.2% and 72.7% in the MTX and the TEN cohorts, respectively (P = 0.627). The median progression-free survival was 28.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.7–51.2] in the MTX cohort and 24.3 months (95% CI: 16.6–32.1) in the TEN cohort (P = 0.75). The median overall survival was 31 months (95% CI: 26.8–35.2) in the MTX cohort and 32 months (95% CI: 27.6–36.4) in the TEN cohort (P = 0.77). The incidence of any grade of coagulopathy/deep-vein thrombosis and gastrointestinal disorders was significantly higher in the MTX cohort than in the TEN cohort; no significant difference was found in the incidence of other adverse events between the two cohorts.ConclusionsThis was the first multicenter study using TEN as the main agent compared with HD-MTX in newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma. The TEN-based regimen was non-inferior to the HD-MTX-based regimen with similar overall responses.Classification of evidenceThis study provided Class III evidence that the teniposide-based regimen was non-inferior to high-dose methotrexate − based regimen with similar overall responses and long-time survival in immunocompetent patients with PCNSL.

Clinical Analysis of Patients with Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

To explore the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm(BPDCN). Clinical data of 5 patients diagnosed with BPDCN in Wuhan First Hospital and Wuhan Tongji Hospital from June 2016 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 5 patients, 3 were male and 2 were female, with a median age of 28(10-52) years old. Four patients showed obvious skin damage at the initial diagnosis; the other one showed clinical manifestations of acute leukemia rather than obvious skin damage at the initial diagnosis, but infiltrated skin when the disease relapsed after treatment. Other infiltration sites of lesions included bone marrow (2/5), peripheral blood (2/5), lymph nodes (3/5), liver and spleen (2/5). All patients had no clinical manifestation of central nervous system infiltration. Tumor cell specific immune markers CD4, CD56, CD123 were all positive, and the median Ki-67 index was 70%. TET2, ASXL1 and NRAS gene mutations were found respectively in 3 patients by next-generation sequencing technique (NGS). ALL-like, AML-like and invasive NK/T cell lymphoma-like first-line induction chemotherapy regimens were used for the patients. One patient died of severe complications during the early stage of chemotherapy, 3 patients were evaluated as CR, and 1 patient was evaluated as PR. 2 patients were recurred and progressed after induction of chemotherapy, and one of them was evaluated as CR after re-treatment. One patient received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) and got long-term survival (OS 87 months). 3 patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), of which one died of transplantation related complications, and 2 cases survived. The median follow-up time of 4 patients with evaluable efficacy was 28.5(9-84) months, the median OS time was 31.5(10-87) months. BPDCN is a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. HSCT, especially allo-HSCT can significantly improve the prognosis of BPDCN patients.

Outcomes with high dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone induction for adults with mixed phenotype acute leukemia

The optimal induction strategy for mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) is unknown, though retrospective data has shown improved remission rates and overall survival with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-based regimens. At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), the most utilized induction regimen for MPAL is high dose cytarabine plus mitoxantrone (“ALL-2”), though outcomes with this regimen are not well described. In this study, outcomes to first-line induction chemotherapy in 24 patients at MSKCC with MPAL classified by 2016 World Health Organization criteria are reported. The overall response rate was 94 % (16 of 17) in patients receiving ALL-2, including 86 % (6 of 7) in patients with extramedullary disease. Thirteen patients who received ALL-2 induction proceeded to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT). The most common toxicity associated with ALL-2 was febrile neutropenia, documented in 12 patients. With a median follow-up of 37 months, median overall survival was not reached in the ALL-2 cohort, and 3-year overall survival was 62 %. In multivariate analysis, age ≥ 60 years and MPAL with isolated extramedullary disease were associated with significantly worse overall survival (P = .009 and P = .01, respectively). These results support further prospective investigation of ALL-2 as a front-line induction regimen for adults with MPAL.

Maintenance therapy with Fluoropyrimidine and cetuximab or bevacizumab after first line FOLFOX-chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer according to RAS or BRAFV600E mutation status.

Fluoropyrimidine (FP) with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); however, oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy critically affects the quality of life of patients. Maintenance strategies with FP plus bevacizumab have been well-established; nonetheless, the real-world outcomes of maintenance therapy with FP and cetuximab are unclear. We investigated the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent maintenance therapy with cetuximab. We retrospectively identified and analyzed patients with mCRC who were treated between 2012 and 2021 with first-line oxaliplatin-based induction chemotherapy (IC) plus biologic agents (either cetuximab or bevacizumab), and underwent maintenance therapy (IC regimen without oxaliplatin) after IC. In total, 19 patients who were treated with mFOLFOX6 (FP/leucovorin/oxaliplatin) with cetuximab, and 26 patients who were treated with mFOLFOX6 with bevacizumab were included. In the cetuximab group, all patients were KRAS-, NRAS-, and BRAF-wild type, whereas most patients in the bevacizumab group harbored KRAS or BRAFV600E or NRAS mutants. During the maintenance treatment, seven patients (four [21%] in the cetuximab group and three [11%] in the bevacizumab group) achieved partial response after achieving nadir during induction chemotherapy. The disease control rates of maintenance therapy were 79% and 74% in the cetuximab and bevacizumab groups, respectively. The median progression-free survival of maintenance therapy and overall survival was 5.98months and 32.4months in the cetuximab group, and 4.83months and 25.6months in the bevacizumab group, respectively. Maintenance therapy with FP plus biologic agents (either bevacizumab or cetuximab) is a feasible strategy for appropriate mCRC patients according to their RAS/BRAF status. Further large-scale randomized studies are needed to validate the efficacy of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-based maintenance therapy.

Therapies for acute myeloid leukemia in patients ineligible for standard induction chemotherapy: a systematic review.

Aim: To review clinical evidence for current and emerging treatments for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are ineligible for first-line induction chemotherapy. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed (28 October 2021) to identify clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and adverse events (AEs). Results: Of 233 references that met prespecified criteria, 26 studies were included. Adding targeted therapies (venetoclax/ivosidenib) to hypomethylating agents (HMAs) yielded better OS hazard ratios (HRs) (0.44-0.66) and EFS HRs (0.33-0.63) compared with other agents. AEs were more frequent with combination therapies than control arms, except with ivosidenib plus azacitidine. Conclusion: Targeted therapy combined with aHMA shows the most promising results in this difficult-to-treat population.

Maintenance endocrine therapy plus bevacizumab for advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Endocrine therapy is the preferred option for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer. 1 Gennari A André F Barrios CH et al. ESMO clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 2021; 32: 1475-1495 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (33) Google Scholar However, first-line chemotherapy is used in approximately half of this patient population, notably in the context of organ failure or resistance to endocrine therapy. 2 Werutsky G Reinert T Rosa ML Barrios CH Real-world data on first-line systemic therapy for hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: a trend shift in the era of CDK 4/6 inhibitors. Clin Breast Cancer. 2021; 21: e688-e692 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar , 3 Jacquet E Lardy-Cléaud A Pistilli B et al. Endocrine therapy or chemotherapy as first-line therapy in hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer. 2018; 95: 93-101 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (30) Google Scholar In these patients, chemotherapy is frequently stopped, despite disease stabilisation, because of acute and cumulative toxic effects. 4 Giuliano M Schettini F Rognoni C et al. Endocrine treatment versus chemotherapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Oncol. 2019; 20: 1360-1369 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (66) Google Scholar Switching to maintenance endocrine therapy after first-line induction chemotherapy has been proposed to improve disease control and to maintain quality of life (QOL). Switch maintenance therapy is regularly used in clinical practice, 1 Gennari A André F Barrios CH et al. ESMO clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 2021; 32: 1475-1495 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (33) Google Scholar , 3 Jacquet E Lardy-Cléaud A Pistilli B et al. Endocrine therapy or chemotherapy as first-line therapy in hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer. 2018; 95: 93-101 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (30) Google Scholar although clinical trials attesting to its relevance are scarce. 5 Ren W Yu Y Hong H et al. Clinical evidence of chemotherapy or endocrine therapy maintenance in patients with metastatic breast cancer: meta-analysis from randomized clinical trials and propensity score matching of multicentre cohort study. Cancer Res Treat. 2022; (published online Feb 4.)https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2021.698 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar Moreover, the first-line combination of bevacizumab (an anti-angiogenic monoclonal antibody) plus chemotherapy has been shown in clinical trials to improve progression-free survival, although its effect on overall survival remains controversial. 6 Miyashita M Hattori M Takano T Toyama T Iwata H Risks and benefits of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Breast Cancer. 2020; 27: 347-354 Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar These results have led to the consideration of this combination as an acceptable first-line strategy. 1 Gennari A André F Barrios CH et al. ESMO clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 2021; 32: 1475-1495 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (33) Google Scholar Similarly, bevacizumab plus endocrine therapy is efficacious in improving progression-free survival and overall survival while being well tolerated as a first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic breast cancer. 7 Martín M Loibl S Hyslop T et al. Evaluating the addition of bevacizumab to endocrine therapy as first-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer: a pooled analysis from the LEA (GEICAM/2006–11_GBG51) and CALGB 40503 (Alliance) trials. Eur J Cancer. 2019; 117: 91-98 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar Switch maintenance endocrine therapy plus bevacizumab after bevacizumab plus paclitaxel in advanced or metastatic oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (BOOSTER): a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trialSwitch to maintenance endocrine therapy plus bevacizumab with the possibility of weekly paclitaxel reinduction if needed is an efficacious alternative, with a better safety profile, to continuing weekly paclitaxel plus bevacizumab in patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have responded to induction therapy. Full-Text PDF

Impact of Post-Remission Maintenance Therapy (MT) on Outcomes in Patients (pts) with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Real-World Practice

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic advances have led to improved survival outcomes in patients (pts) with AML. Consolidation therapy helps to eradicate residual leukemia and prevent relapse. However, relapse remains a major concern and contributes to suboptimal outcomes in pts with newly diagnosed AML who attain remission following induction chemotherapy (IC). Strategies for maintenance therapy (MT) attempt to prolong AML remission and extend survival. MT approaches have included chemotherapy, hypomethylating agents (HMAs), and targeted small-molecule drugs. Overall, the evidence in favor of MT is limited. The oral formulation of azacitidine (Oral-AZA), an HMA, is the first and only MT to demonstrate significant overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) benefits in pts with a broad range of AML subtypes (Wei, NEJM 2020), leading to regulatory approvals in the United States (2020), Canada (2021), and European Union (2021). This study aimed to determine in real-world practice whether the use of MT after IC, with or without consolidation, conferred any clinical advantage before Oral-AZA became available.METHODS: This study included pts in the US-based Flatiron TM Health cancer-specific electronic health record-derived database diagnosed with AML between January 2014 and December 2020. Eligible pts in this study obtained remission (< 5% bone marrow blasts) from first-line (1L) induction chemotherapy or venetoclax (VEN)-based therapy, had not previously taken Oral-AZA or any clinical study drug, and did not undergo transplant prior to relapse. Pts were grouped into 2 cohorts: Cohort A comprised pts who did not receive MT, and Cohort B comprised pts who did receive MT. RFS and OS were estimated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) methods. Multivariate Cox regression models that retained baseline (BL) characteristics (age, sex, BMI, ECOG performance status [PS], and cytogenetic risk) were used to examine the relationships between use of MT and relapse (> 5% bone marrow blasts), and MT and survival.RESULTS: A total of 952 pts met the selection criteria: 808 pts (84.9%) in Cohort A and 144 pts (15.1%) in Cohort B. The most commonly received MTs for pts in Cohort B were injectable AZA (34.7%; n = 50), decitabine (24.3%; n = 35), and VEN-based regimens (21.5%; n = 31). Cohorts A and B were comparable for sex, BL BMI, ECOG PS score, and practice type (Table). Pts who did not receive MT (Cohort A) were younger (mean age 62.1 vs 66.0 years; P = 0.006) and more commonly presented with favorable cytogenetic risk (17.2% vs 6.9%; P = 0.011) compared with pts who received MT (Cohort B).The percentage of pts receiving IC in a 7+3 regimen was similar between Cohort A and Cohort B (69.1% vs 67.4%, respectively; P = 0.685), as were the proportions of pts receiving VEN + an HMA (23.3% vs 17.4% P = 0.118).The KM analysis indicated that although median RFS of Cohort A was longer than Cohort B, differences between cohorts were not statistically significant (303 vs 276 days, P = 0.175). In a subanalysis of pts with intermediate/poor cytogenetic risk, median RFS was 201 days for Cohort A and 230 days for Cohort B (P = 0.952). In the multivariate Cox model, treatment with MT was not a significant predictor of improved RFS vs no MT (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.97 [0.79, 1.20]). Age and cytogenetic risk were significantly associated with RFS.The median OS was 659 days for Cohort A and 389 days for Cohort B (P = 0.006). In the subanalysis excluding pts with favorable or unknown cytogenetic risk, median OS was 400 days for Cohort A and 366 days for Cohort B (P = 0.561). A multivariate Cox regression model suggested that treatment with MT was not a significant predictor of improved OS (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.88 [0.70, 1.10]). Age, sex, ECOG PS, and cytogenetic risk were all significantly associated with OS.CONCLUSIONS: These Flatiron data provide real-world evidence that despite decades of study, optimal MT in AML had remained elusive. Prior to approval of Oral-AZA, the most common MT options for pts with AML in first remission after 1L induction therapy were limited and appeared to lack clinical benefit. Pts with AML need an MT that prolongs remission and improves long-term survival. Further research is needed to elucidate the benefits and disadvantages of different MT options and may lead to establishment of optimal MT as standard of care. [Display omitted] DisclosuresPotluri: Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy. Rotter: SmartAnalyst Inc.: Current Employment. Chen: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.

Characteristics and Outcome of Elderly Patients (> 55 Years) with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Introduction: Prognosis of elderly ALL patients is generally considered to be poor. Nonetheless, data on disease characteristics, treatment and outcome of this group of patients is scarce.Methods: Between May 2003 and October 2020, 96 patients (pts) aged > 55 years with B-precursor ALL (91 pts) or T-ALL (5 pts), received first-line induction chemotherapy (84 pts) or were admitted for salvage treatment (8 pts) or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT, 4 pts) at the University Hospital Muenster, Germany. 78 patients were diagnosed with a common-ALL (27 pts were BCR/ABL positive) and 13 patients with a pro-B-ALL. Age adapted BFM (Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster)-like treatment regimens, according to the recommendations of the GMALL (German multicenter ALL study group) for younger (18-55 years, 25 pts) or elderly patients (> 55 years, 68 pts) were used. In general, these protocols consisted of two cycles of induction therapy followed by consolidation, reinduction and consolidation therapy blocks in the 1 st year as well as a consecutive maintenance therapy in the 2 nd year. 3 patients (3%) received no intensive treatment due to poor performance status and comorbidities. Overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the log-rank-test and Cox proportional hazards model for RFS and OS, respectively.Results: Median patient age at diagnosis was 66 years (range 55-89 years). 94% of all patients had an ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) status of 0-2 and 92% had a Charlson comorbidity index of 0-2. The median follow-up of all patients was 2.0 years (range 20 days - 16.9 years) and of surviving patients 3.7 years (range 8.8 months - 16.9 years). A complete remission (CR) after induction therapy was documented in 62 of 81 (77%) patients receiving their initial induction therapy at our center. Minimal residual disease (MRD) status was analyzed by quantitative real time PCR in 44 of these patients and 19 patients had an MRD negative CR (43%) after induction therapy. The rate of early death after intensive therapy (death within 100 days after start of treatment) was 6%. The 3 patients not treated with intensive chemotherapy died within 3 months.27 of 93 patients finished the first year of treatment. Subsequent maintenance therapy was administered to 12 patients. The reasons for discontinuation of conventional treatment in the first and second year were relapsed disease (31 pts), alloSCT in 1 st CR (23 pts), toxicity/patients' preference (17 pts) and death in CR under conventional therapy (7 pts). 3 patients have not completed their therapy yet.OS and RFS of the entire cohort at 1 year were 73% (95% CI: 64-82%) and 57% (95% CI: 47-67%) and at 3 years 46% (95% CI: 36-56%) and 32% (95% CI: 22-42%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of relapse at 1 and 3 years was 29% (95% CI: 20-41%) and 56% (95% CI: 45-69%), respectively. OS of those patients receiving an alloSCT (23 pts in 1 st CR, 7 pts in 2 nd CR, 3 pts with active disease, median age at alloSCT 62 years) at 1 and 3 years was 82% (95% CI: 68-95%) and 49% (95% CI: 32-67%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of relapse after alloSCT at 1 and 3 years was 16% (95% CI: 7-35%) and 32% (95% CI: 18-56%), respectively.Regarding the entire patient cohort, older age (> 75 years, 15 pts) was significantly associated with an inferior OS (p < .001). BCR/ABL status, ALL phenotype (T- or B-ALL) or intensity of conventional treatment applied (protocol originally intended for patients ≤ 55 years vs > 55 years) had no significant impact on OS. In multivariate analysis, ECOG status >2 and persisting disease after 1 st consolidation therapy were risk factor associated with inferior OS (p < .05).Conclusion: Intensive treatment is feasible in selected elderly ALL patients (> 55 years). High relapse rates and impaired survival rates underline the need for novel therapeutic strategies. DisclosuresKhandanpour: GSK: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria. Schliemann: Philogen S.p.A.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Other: travel grants; Astellas: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Other: travel grants; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Brüggemann: Incyte: Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Other: Advisory Board, Travel support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Berdel: Philogen S.p.A.: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Stelljes: Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Medac: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Kite/Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

Fotemustine-based therapy in combination with rituximab as a first-line induction chemotherapy followed by WBRT for newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma: a prospective phase II trial.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of the rituximab, fotemustine, pemetrexed, and dexamethasone (R-FPD) regimen followed by whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).Methods:A prospective, single-center phase II clinical trial was conducted. Patients with PCNSL newly diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between July 2018 and July 2020 were studied. The R-FPD regimen consisted of rituximab (375 mg/m2 i.v. on D0), fotemustine (100 mg/m2 i.v. on D1), pemetrexed (600 mg/m2 i.v. on D1), and dexamethasone (40 mg i.v. on D1-5). Patients 60 years or younger who showed a complete response (CR) were treated with 23.4 Gy of WBRT after the end of chemotherapy; those older than 60 years with CR were treated with a wait-and-see approach; and those who did not show CR after the 4th cycle of chemotherapy were given salvage WBRT 30 Gy + local tumor field irradiation up to 45 Gy, regardless of age.Results:A total of 30 patients were included. After 2 cycles, the objective response rate (ORR) was 96.5% (28/29, 1 CR, 27 PR, 0 SD, and 1 PD). After 4 cycles, the ORR was 73.1% (19/26, 11 CR, 8 PR, 4 SD, and 3 PD). After WBRT, the ORR was 90.9% (10/11, 7 CR, 3 PR, and 1 SD). The grade III and IV toxicity responses were mainly leukopenia (20.0%), thrombocytopenia (23.3%), and anemia (10.0%).Conclusions:Fotemustine-based therapy in combination with rituximab chemotherapy followed by WBRT can improve outcomes, providing ORR benefits and favorable tolerability in patients newly diagnosed with PCNSL.

AML-157: Economic Burden of Hospitalizations for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Remission in the United States: A Retrospective Analysis of an Administrative Claims Database

<h3>Context:</h3> Healthcare resource utilization and costs of managing AML patients are substantial, with hospitalization being the main cost driver of AML care. In the Phase 3 QUAZAR AML-001 maintenance trial, lower rates and durations of hospitalization with oral azacitidine <i>vs</i> placebo corresponded with substantial reductions in hospitalization-related costs in patients with AML in remission. <h3>Objective:</h3> Examine the impact of remission duration on the economic burden of hospitalizations among AML patients in a real-world setting. <h3>Methods:</h3> Adult patients with an AML diagnosis (ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM) who achieved remission after first-line induction chemotherapy were identified from an administrative claims health database (Optum® Clinformatics® Data Mart). Additional inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied to match the QUAZAR AML-001 trial population. Eligible patients were organized into cohorts based on their duration of remission (DOR): cohort A < median DOR, cohort B ≥ median DOR. Hospitalization incidence and duration were analyzed between cohorts using an appropriate count model for hospitalizations. Hospitalization-related costs were compared using a generalized linear model with gamma distribution and log-link function. <h3>Results:</h3> Overall, median DOR was 125 days; cohorts A and B included 220 and 231 patients, respectively, with median times from remission to end of follow-up of 89 and 378 days. Baseline characteristics were comparable between cohorts (mean [SD] age 62.8 [14.7] years, Charlson comorbidity index [CCI] 1.7 [1.6]) except for sex (male: 59.5% <i>vs</i> 47.6%). The number of hospitalizations (4.71 <i>vs</i> 2.68 per patient per year [PPPY]) and total length of stays (43.88 <i>vs</i> 23.59 days PPPY) were higher in cohort A <i>vs</i> B, respectively; estimated hospitalization-related costs (2019 USD) were $242,511 <i>vs</i> $132,554 PPPY, respectively. Cumulative mean hospitalization cost per patient was $61,371 higher in Cohort A at 12 months and $108,593 higher at 24 months. When adjusted for confounding baseline variables (e.g., age, sex, CCI), the number, length, and cost of hospitalization were each significantly greater in cohort A than in cohort B (P<0.001 each). <h3>Conclusions:</h3> In a real-world setting, prolonged remission was associated with significantly lower rates and durations of hospitalization in patients with AML in remission following induction chemotherapy, which were estimated to result in substantial cumulative cost savings.

Prognostic Value of Day 14 Bone Marrow Biopsy (d14BM) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Introduction: because early assessment of response to intensive induction for AML is believed to be an important predictor of complete remission (CR) and a useful tool to trigger reinduction decisions, d14BM is a widely accepted practice. However, its predictive value is controversial, with some studies suggesting that the risks of a redundant reinduction given to patients whose residual d14 disease is of unclear significance may outweigh its benefits. To clarify this issue we analyzed the influence of d14BM in consecutive newly diagnosed younger (≤60y) patients (pts) receiving first-line intensive induction chemotherapy in our center in the last 18 years.Methods: induction was idarrubicin + cytarabine (3+7), with 2 cycles allowed if no CR with the first. D14BM was mandatory, and blasts were enumerated by morphology and immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the impact on CR rate and on cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) of d14BM findings (no blasts, <10% or ≥10%) and of other potentially relevant factors: genetic risk, myelodysplasia- or therapy-related disease (secAML), age (< vs ≥40y) and WBC count at entry (< vs ≥ 50000/ul).Results: in 374 pts treated from May/98 to May/16, median age 48 (14-60), 55% male, 21% secAML, CR rate was 74%, 14% of CRs being achieved after a 2nd cycle (22% in secAML). Most 2nd cycles were given after d28 or count recovery. CR rate was 80% in pts with no blasts in d14BM, 62% for pts with <10% blasts e 23% for pts with >=10% blasts (p<0.001 for all comparisons). Only 2 other factors were significant for CR: genetic risk (favorable 98% CR, intermediate 78%, unfavorable 33%, p<0.001) and de novo vs secAML (79% vs 51%, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis all 3 factors retained independent significance. There was no significant difference in CIR between pts whose CR was obtained after a d14BM with no blasts, with <10% ou >=10% blasts (p=ns).Conclusion: in our study d14BM is an independent factor for CR. Our data also clarify 2 other issues: a d14BM with few blasts is associated with a high likelihood of achieving CR, suggesting there may be no benefit in immediate reinduction; and CR duration after a d14BM with blasts is not shorter, contrary to a widespread notion of “cosmetic” CRs in the absence of aplasia. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

A phase III multicenter randomized clinical trial to compare cisplatin plus fluorouracil with or without docetaxel as the first-line induction chemotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Long-term outcomes update.

6032 Background: A phase III multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare cisplatin plus 5-fluorourcil with or without docetaxel as first-line induction chemotherapy in the patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). Here, we report on the long-term outcomes and late toxicities of the trial (NCT01536223). Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed LANPC, stage III-IV disease, Karnofsky performance score≥70, without metastasis were eligible and randomly assigned 1:1 to TPF versus PF for three cycles. The primary end point was progression-free survival; local control, OS and advent events were important key secondary end points. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were used to conduct and compare the survival curves in this study. Results: Two hundred ninety-nine patients were enrolled. 276 patients (138 TPF and 138 PF) were evaluable. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between two groups, and the median age was 48 (range, 18-60 years). The ORR rates after induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy were 90.6% and 9797.8% in TPF group and 87.0% (P &gt; 0.05) and 97.8% (P &gt; 0.05), respectively. The median follow-up was 99 months. For all patients, the 5- and 8-year OS and PFS were 76.9% and 74.9%, 72.3% and 69.1%, respectively. PF was associated with a similar PFS versus TPF ( 5-year PFS of 72.4% versus 73.2%, P =.747), and an equivalent OS at 5 years ( 79.2% and 79.1%, P = 0.519). Treatment-related grade 3 to 4 advent events were less frequent with PF compared with TPF. Conclusions: With prolonged follow-up, the survival outcomes in the PF group were not non-inferiority to those in the TPF group, but grade 3 to 4 advent events were less frequent. Clinical trial information: NCT01536223.

Maintenance durvalumab after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced oesophago-gastric (OG) adenocarcinoma: Results from the PLATFORM trial.

4015 Background: PLATFORM is a prospective, open-label, multicentre, adaptive phase II trial assessing maintenance therapy in patients (pts) with OG adenocarcinoma after platinum-based first-line induction chemotherapy. HER2 negative pts were initially randomised 1:1:1:1:1 to surveillance (A1), capecitabine (A2), durvalumab (A3), with rucaparib (A4) and capecitabine + ramucirumab (A5) added later as per adaptive design. Here we report the primary analysis of durvalumab maintenance vs. surveillance. Methods: Pts were randomised upon achieving response or stable disease following 18 weeks of platinum-based chemotherapy and were stratified by region, disease extent and performance status. A1 pts had 4 weekly surveillance visits and A3 pts received 10mg/kg durvalumab iv Q2W. Target accrual was 154 pts/arm; however, A3 was closed prematurely after cessation of industry support. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) from randomisation post induction chemotherapy to disease progression according to RECIST 1.1 criteria, or death. Secondary endpoints were time to treatment failure (TTF), objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Survival analyses according to PD-L1 using the combined positive score (CPS, Ventana SP263 assay) was conducted. Results: A total of 205 pts were concurrently randomised into A1 (n = 100) and A3 (n = 105). At data cut-off (02 Feb 2021), median follow up was 24.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 21.6-36.8]. There was no significant difference in PFS between A1 and A3 [median PFS: 3.2 vs. 4.7 months (hazard ratio (HR) 0.79 (95% CI 0.59-1.06, p = 0.122) respectively]. Median OS was 11.4 vs. 11.3 months (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.66-1.27, p = 0.60) in A1 and A3 respectively and no significant difference in TTF was detected between both arms (median TTF: 3.2 vs. 3.5 months (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.69-1.23, p = 0.558)]. ORR was 6% in A3 (n = 2 complete and n = 4 partial responses) whereas no radiological responses were seen in A1. PD-L1 results were available for 76 pts in A1 and 77 pts in A3. PFS was comparable between subgroups using the PD-L1 CPS thresholds of ≥1, ≥5 and ≥10. The safety population consisted of 199 pts (A1: 98 pts and A3: 101 pts). Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 18% of A3 pts and no new safety signals were identified. Conclusions: Although a survival advantage was not seen with maintenance durvalumab compared to surveillance, a subset of patients who received durvalumab demonstrated incremental radiological responses. Exploratory analysis of PD-L1 expression was not associated with improved survival outcomes. Clinical trial information: NCT02678182.

Treatment outcomes of cohesin complex-mutant myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

e19007 Background: Mutations in the genes STAG1, STAG2, SMC1A, SMC3, and RAD21 which are part of the cohesin complex are recurrent in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. The cohesin complex is involved in sister chromatid attachment during cell division and in DNA loop formation bringing enhancers and genes together. Prognosis and treatment efficacy for this subgroup has not been well studied in MDS or AML. We evaluated the treatment outcomes of a subgroup with cohesin mutations from a database of MDS and AML patients at the University of Massachusetts. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of adult patients with a new diagnosis of AML and/or MDS from 2015-2019 in the University of Massachusetts Leukemia Registry. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare initial response to treatment via induction chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents. Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival were compared using the log-rank test. We considered &lt; 5% blasts by morphology to be complete remission (regardless of hematologic recovery). Four patients who did not undergo treatment were excluded from treatment and survival analysis. Results: A total of 19 patients had mutations in a cohesin complex gene with one patient having mutations in both STAG2 and SMC1A. The cohesin complex mutation frequency was 9.95% (19 out of 191 patients) with STAG2 representing 70% of the mutations. First-line induction chemotherapy resulted in an improved rate of complete remission 83.3% compared to hypomethylating agents 0% (p = 0.002). For AML patients alone, there was improvement in complete response rate for induction chemotherapy vs. hypomethylating agents (p = 0.048). There was no overall survival benefit for induction chemotherapy compared to hypomethylating agents (44.4% vs 41.7% probability of survival at 2 years) with p = 0.87. Excluding the MDS patients, there was still no difference in overall survival with p = 0.63. Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis of cohesin complex-mutant MDS and AML, induction chemotherapy resulted in significantly improved complete remission rates compared to hypomethylating agents. There was no overall survival benefit. We also found one patient with simultaneous mutations in two cohesin genes while cohesin mutations were previously reported to be mutually exclusive. Further work looking at additional samples may be able to show induction chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for cohesin mutant AML.[Table: see text]

Myelodysplastic Syndrome Secondary to Multiple Myeloma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: With the prolongation of survival in recent years, the accumulation of toxic and side effects of therapeutic drugs and the concomitant drug-related adverse reactions were reported in recent years. However, myelodysplastic syndrome secondary to multiple myeloma is rare. Objective: To improve the understanding of myelodysplastic syndrome secondary to multiple myeloma. Methods: The clinical data of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome secondary to multiple myeloma after treatment were analyzed, and the related literature was reviewed. Results: A 54-year-old male patient was diagnosed as multiple myeloma in February 2014. After three courses of first-line induction chemotherapy, he achieved complete remission and received two courses of consolidation treatment. After that, he continued to take thalidomide orally. The disease recurred 13 months after complete remission (CR) with 6q+ karyotype change in 37 months. 21q- karyotype change was found in 39 months. The patient was finally diagnosed as treatment-related secondary myelodysplastic syndrome. Due to the poor effect of chemotherapy, the disease continued to deteriorate. Conclusion: In the course of multiple drug treatment, clinicians should pay attention to the changes of molecular genetics and the treatment-related secondary tumor.

Fotemustine-Based in Combination with Rituximab As First-Line Induction Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma:a Prospective Phaseii Trial

Objective:To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of rituximab, fotemustine, pemetrexed and dexamethasone (R-FPD) regimen for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients. Methods:A prospective, single-center, single-arm, phase II clinical trial. Patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL diagnosed from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2018 to July 2020. R-FPD regimen consisted of rituximab (375 mg/m2 i.v. on D0), fotemustine (100mg/m2 i.v. on D1) ,pemetrexed (600mg/m2 i.v. on D1), and dexamethasone (40 mg i.v. on D1).(NCT04083066) Results: 30 patients were included. After two cycles, the objective response rate(ORR) was 96.4%(27/28,26 PR,1 CR,0 SD,0 PD,2 Censored),the disease control rate(DCR) was 96.4%(27/28); After four cycles, the ORR was 71.4% (15/21, 5PR,10 CR,1SD,5PD,7NR,2 Censored),DCR was 76.2%(16/21). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 20.3 months (95%CI:5.2--35.4),The median overall survival (OS) was 22.0 months (95%CI:16.1-27.9).The grade III-IV toxicities were mainly leukopenia(17.9%), thrombocypenia(25%) and anemia(10.7%). Conclusion: Fotemustine-based in combination with Rituximab chemotherapy can improve outcomes with the progress free survival and the overall survival benefits, as well as with better tolerability for newly diagnosed PCNSL patients. Keywords: rituximab; primary central nervous system lymphoma; pemetrexed; fotemustine; efficacy Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Giant multinucleated plasma cells in relapsed plasma cell myeloma.

A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed with plasma cell myeloma in 2018, received first-line induction chemotherapy, and made a partial response. She then received two cycles of DT-PACE chemotherapy. Her paraprotein levels remained static and a repeat bone marrow test in February 2019 revealed persistent bone marrow involvement by plasma cell myeloma showing usual (mononuclear) morphology with no multinucleated giant cells. She was treated with daratumumab as a bridge to an autologous stem cell transplant in June 2019. Her day 100 post autograft bone marrow trephine biopsy contained a plasma cell population making up 10% of all nucleated cells. More than 95% of the atypical plasma cells showed multinucleated giant cell morphology containing up to 40 nuclei. On immunohistochemistry, these multinucleated giant cells showed positive staining for CD138, CD38, and CD56 and were lambda restricted. CD45 was negative. Bone marrow trephine sections stained (clockwise from top left) with H&E, and for CD138, lambda light chains, and CD38. Multinucleated tumor giant cells are thought to form by two mechanisms: by cell-cell fusion via syncytins or as a result of a failure of cytokinesis at the end of the anaphase stage of mitosis. Occasional case reports of giant multinucleated plasma cells have been published since the 1970s. However, the presence of giant plasma cells with more than 10 nuclei is extremely rare. One previous case had also been treated with daratumumab, an IgG1k monoclonal antibody directed against cell surface CD38 (Guijarro F, Rozman M, Matutes E. Multinucleated giant myeloma cells after failure of daratumumab therapy. Br J Haematol 2018;181:432). Plasma cell membrane alterations promoting cell-cell fusion may be a side effect of immunotherapies targeting cell surface molecules. Giant multinucleated plasma cells may be observed more frequently as such immunotherapies become increasingly used.

A Retrospective Exploration of Targeted Maintenance Therapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer: Based on the Background of Chinese Patient Assistance Program.

Background: Maintenance therapy with bevacizumab (Bev) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) provides progression-free survival (PFS) benefits. However, the role of maintenance therapy with an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody has not been established.Methods: Eligible CRC patients were assigned to maintenance therapy with cetuximab (Cet; Cet group) or Bev (Bev group). PFS, the duration of maintenance therapy, and safety were analyzed. Cox multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine independent prognostic factors.Results: A total of 143 eligible patients were assigned to the Cet (n = 79) or Bev (n = 64) groups. In the Cet group, all patients had KRAS wild-type. The baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups, except for a higher percentage of patients with a left-sided primary tumor in the Cet group than in the Bev group (86.1 vs. 62.5%, P < 0.0001). The median PFS was not significantly different between the Cet group and the Bev group: 5.9 months (95% CI 2.30–9.50) vs. 7.0 months (95% CI 3.69–10.31) (HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.77–1.79, P = 0.45). The median duration of maintenance therapy in the Cet group was shorter than that in the Bev group: 4.0 months (95% CI 1.94–5.99) vs. 4.8 months (95% CI 2.68–6.98) (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.61–1.33; P = 0.59). The subgroup analyses showed that the median PFS for the first maintenance therapy and the second maintenance therapy were 3.2 months (95% CI 1.69–4.78) and 5.2 months (95% CI 1.58–8.83), respectively (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.44–1.81; P = 0.75).Conclusions: This study suggests that maintenance therapy with Cet or Bev can be considered an appropriate option following induction chemotherapy for selected patients with advanced CRC. Multiple maintenance therapy seems to confer survival benefits in advanced CRC. Maintenance therapy with Cet after first-line induction chemotherapy seems to be associated with greater survival benefits.

Survival and Toxicity of Hypofractionated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in 4 Gy Fractions for Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

To assess the survival, local and distant control, and toxicity in patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with radical-intent hypofractionated radiation therapy delivering approximately 60 Gy in 4-Gy fractions. Consecutive patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (n = 42) who received hypofractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy were retrospectively analyzed (2012-2016). Treatments consisted of first-line platinum-based doublet induction chemotherapy followed by an intended dose of 60 Gy in 15 fractions. During a median follow-up period of 46 months (95% confidence interval, 41-59) the median overall survival was 47 months (95% confidence interval, 31 to not reached). The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 81%, 69%, 64%, and 32%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 58%, 35%, 25%, and 25%, respectively. An isolated locoregional recurrence was seen in 12% of the patients (n = 5). The incidence of grade (G) 3 or higher treatment-related lung toxicity was 14% (n = 6), among which G3 toxicity was 9.5% (n = 4) and G5 toxicity was 4.8% (n = 2). Twelve percent of patients (n = 5) experienced G3 radiation esophagitis, and 2% (n = 1) had G4 esophageal toxicity. Patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with hypofractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy in doses up to 60 Gy at 4 Gy per fraction had promising survival, although high-grade esophageal and lung toxicities were seen. Our findings deserve further evaluation in prospective studies.