Hyper-CVAD versus dose-adjusted EPOCH as initial treatment for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

OBJECTIVES: We recently performed a single-arm phase II trial of DA-EPOCH in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We sought to compare these results to those with standard Hyper-CVAD. METHODS: We created a retrospective matched cohort of patients who received Hyper-CVAD (n = 69) at our center and otherwise met eligibility criteria for the DA-EPOCH trial (n = 53). RESULTS: Our outcomes support the use of Hyper-CVAD over DA-EPOCH in Ph- disease for both overall survival (OS; HR 0.18, p = .004) and event-free survival (EFS; HR 0.51, p = .06). In contrast, outcomes were similar in Ph+ disease (OS HR 0.97, p = .96; EFS HR 0.65, p = .21). Rates of morphologic remission and measurable residual-disease negativity were similar between the regimens. Hyper-CVAD was associated with significantly more febrile neutropenia (OR 1.9, p = .03) and a greater incidence of Grade 4 or 5 adverse events (20% vs. 6%). Average transfusions per cycle of both red blood cells (p < .001) and platelets (p < .001) were five-fold higher with Hyper-CVAD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support continued use of Hyper-CVAD for Ph- ALL but suggest that DA-EPOCH may be a reasonable alternative for Ph+ ALL. These data also highlight a potential role for DA-EPOCH in resource-limited settings or when more intense therapy is not feasible.

Erdheim-Chester disease: consensus recommendations for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment in the molecular era.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytosis that was recently recognized as a neoplastic disorder owing to the discovery of recurrent activating MAPK (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK) pathway mutations. Typical findings of ECD include central diabetes insipidus, restrictive pericarditis, perinephric fibrosis, and sclerotic bone lesions. The histopathologic diagnosis of ECD is often challenging due to nonspecific inflammatory and fibrotic findings on histopathologic review of tissue specimens. Additionally, the association of ECD with unusual tissue tropism and an insidious onset often results in diagnostic errors and delays. Most patients with ECD require treatment, except for a minority of patients with minimally symptomatic single-organ disease. The first ECD consensus guidelines were published in 2014 on behalf of the physicians and researchers within the Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance. With the recent molecular discoveries and the approval of the first targeted therapy (vemurafenib) for BRAF-V600-mutant ECD, there is a need for updated clinical practice guidelines to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This document presents consensus recommendations that resulted from the International Medical Symposia on ECD in 2017 and 2019. Herein, we include the guidelines for the clinical, laboratory, histologic, and radiographic evaluation of ECD patients along with treatment recommendations based on our clinical experience and review of literature in the molecular era.

A novel GAB2::BRAF fusion in cutaneous non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis with systemic involvement.

Several mutations and gene fusions involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway have been reported in histiocytic neoplasms including Langerhans cell histiocytosis and non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (NLCH). We identified a GAB2::BRAF fusion in a cutaneous lesion from a 22-year-old woman who presented with central diabetes insipidus and red/brown papules on her face, oral mucosa, axilla, and groin. Skin biopsy showed a CD68+, S100-, and CD1a- histiocytic proliferation consistent with NLCH, best clinically classified as xanthoma disseminatum. Next-generation sequencing identified a GAB2::BRAF fusion involving exon 2 of GAB and exon 10 of BRAF. This case implicates a novel fusion in the MAPK signaling pathway, not previously reported in histiocytic neoplasms, as a possible driver of NLCH. Our findings underscore the utility of performing molecular studies on skin biopsy specimens with NLCH to help identify potential targets for therapy.

The response to lymphodepletion impacts PFS in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with CD19 CAR T cells.

Factors associated with durable remission after CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell immunotherapy for aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have not been identified. We report multivariable analyses of factors affecting response and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with aggressive NHL treated with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine lymphodepletion followed by 2 × 106 CD19-directed CAR T cells/kg. The best overall response rate was 51%, with 40% of patients achieving complete remission. The median PFS of patients with aggressive NHL who achieved complete remission was 20.0 months (median follow-up, 26.9 months). Multivariable analysis of clinical and treatment characteristics, serum biomarkers, and CAR T-cell manufacturing and pharmacokinetic data showed that a lower pre-lymphodepletion serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level and a favorable cytokine profile, defined as serum day 0 monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and peak interleukin-7 (IL-7) concentrations above the median, were associated with better PFS. MCP-1 and IL-7 concentrations increased after lymphodepletion, and higher intensity of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine lymphodepletion was associated with higher probability of a favorable cytokine profile. PFS was superior in patients who received high-intensity lymphodepletion and achieved a favorable cytokine profile compared with those who received the same intensity of lymphodepletion without achieving a favorable cytokine profile. Even in high-risk patients with pre-lymphodepletion serum LDH levels above normal, a favorable cytokine profile after lymphodepletion was associated with a low risk of a PFS event. Strategies to augment the cytokine response to lymphodepletion could be tested in future studies of CD19 CAR T-cell immunotherapy for aggressive B-cell NHL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01865617.

Survival of patients with newly diagnosed high-grade myeloid neoplasms who do not meet standard trial eligibility.

Few patients with cancer, including those with acute myeloid leukemia and high-grade myeloid neoplasms, participate in clinical trials. Broadening standard eligibility criteria may increase clinical trial participation. In this retrospective single-center analysis, we identified 442 consecutive newly diagnosed patients from 2014 to 2016. Patients were considered eligible if they had performance status 0-2, normal renal and hepatic function, no recent solid tumor, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50%, and no history of congestive heart failure (CHF) or myocardial infarction (MI); ineligible patients failed to meet one or more of these criteria. We included 372 patients who received chemotherapy. Ineligible patients represented 40% of the population and had a 1-79-fold greater risk of death (95% CI 1.37, 2.33) than eligible patients. Very few patients had cardiac co-morbidities, including 2% with low EF, 4% with prior CHF, and 5% with prior MI. In multivariable analysis, ineligibility was associated with decreased survival [HR 1-44 (95% CI 1-07, 1-93)]. Allogeneic transplantation, performed in 150 patients (40%), was associated with improved survival [HR 0-66, 95% CI (0-48, 0-91)]. Therefore, standard eligibility characteristics identify a patient population with improved survival. Further treatment options are needed for patients considered ineligible for clinical trials.

Financial Implications of Early Hospital Discharge After AML-Like Induction Chemotherapy: A 4-Year Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early hospital discharge (EHD) after intensive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) induction chemotherapy has become routine at the University of Washington/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance over the past several years. We assessed the financial implications of EHD over the first 4 years after its broad adoption for patients with AML and other high-grade myeloid neoplasms undergoing AML-like induction chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively compared charges between 189 patients with EHD who received all postinduction inpatient/outpatient care within our care system between August 2014 and July 2018 and 139 medically matched control patients who remained hospitalized for logistical reasons. Charges from the day of initial discharge (patients with EHD) or end of chemotherapy (control patients) until blood count recovery, additional chemotherapy or care transition, hospital discharge (for control patients only), an elapse of 42 days, or death were extracted from financial databases and separated into categories: facility/provider, emergency department, transfusions, laboratory, imaging, pharmacy, and miscellaneous. RESULTS: Combined charges averaged $4,157/day (range, $905-$13,119/day) for patients with EHD versus $9,248/day (range, $4,363-$48,522/day) for control patients (P<.001). The EHD cohort had lower mean facility/provider, transfusion, laboratory, and pharmacy charges but not imaging or miscellaneous charges. During readmissions, there was no statistically significant difference in daily inpatient charges between the EHD and control cohorts. After multivariable adjustment, average charges were $3,837/day lower for patients with EHD (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Together with previous data from our center showing that EHD is safe and associated with reduced healthcare resource utilization, this study further supports this care approach for AML and other high-grade myeloid neoplasms if infrastructure is available to enable close outpatient follow-up.

Histiocytic Neoplasms, Version 2.2021, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Histiocytic neoplasms are rare hematologic disorders accounting for less than 1% of cancers of the soft tissue and lymph nodes. Clinical presentation and prognosis of these disorders can be highly variable, leading to challenges for diagnosis and optimal management of these patients. Treatment often consists of systemic therapy, and recent studies support use of targeted therapies for patients with these disorders. Observation ("watch and wait") may be sufficient for select patients with mild disease. These NCCN Guidelines for Histiocytic Neoplasms include recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of adults with the most common histiocytic disorders: Langerhans cell histiocytosis, Erdheim-Chester disease, and Rosai-Dorfman disease.

Managing Cancer Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Agility and Collaboration Toward a Common Goal.

The first confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States was reported on January 20, 2020, in Snohomish County, Washington. At the epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and University of Washington are at the forefront of delivering care to patients with cancer during this public health crisis. This Special Feature highlights the unique circumstances and challenges of cancer treatment amidst this global pandemic, and the importance of organizational structure, preparation, agility, and a shared vision for continuing to provide cancer treatment to patients in the face of uncertainty and rapid change.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease, Version 2.2018.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in patients with cancer and increases morbidity and mortality. VTE prevention and treatment are more complex in patients with cancer. The NCCN Guidelines for Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease outline strategies for treatment and prevention of VTE in adult patients diagnosed with cancer or in whom cancer is clinically suspected. These NCCN Guidelines Insights explain recent changes in anticoagulants recommended for the treatment of cancer-associated VTE.

Description and prognostic significance of the kinetics of minimal residual disease status in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with HyperCVAD.

HyperCVAD is a commonly-used regimen for adults with newly-diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, relatively little is known about the application of minimal residual disease (MRD) detection with this treatment. To address this, we studied 142 adults with ALL treated with hyperCVAD over a 10-year period who had MRD assessed by either multi-parameter flow cytometry or (for patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for the BCR-ABL1 translocation. In a multivariate analysis, patients who achieved MRD negativity (MRDNeg ) at any point had significantly better overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR] 0.43; P = .01) and event-free survival (EFS; HR 0.27; P < .01). Of 121 patients with MRD assessed at various points within 90 days of starting hyperCVAD, 50% (n = 61) had achieved MRDNeg . Among those that became MRDNeg , the median time to MRDNeg was 68 days. Time to MRDNeg was significantly associated with EFS (P = .009), but not OS (P = .19), implying increasingly better EFS the earlier MRDNeg is achieved. These data add to our understanding of MRD assessment during treatment with hyperCVAD, aide clinicians with predicting relapse risk, and provide additional historical data on which future clinical trials can be designed.

Phase II study of tosedostat with cytarabine or decitabine in newly diagnosed older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or high-risk MDS.

Tosedostat, an oral aminopeptidase inhibitor, has synergy with cytarabine and hypomethylating agents. We performed a Phase II trial to determine rates of complete remission (CR) and survival using tosedostat with cytarabine or decitabine in older patients with untreated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Thirty-four patients ≥60 years old (median age 70 years; range, 60-83) were randomized to receive tosedostat (120 mg on days 1-21 or 180 mg continuously) with 5 d of either cytarabine (1 g/m2 /d) or decitabine (20 mg/m2 /d) every 35 d. Twenty-nine patients (85%) had AML, including 15 (44%) with secondary AML/MDS, and 5 (15%) had MDS-refractory anaemia with excess blasts type 2. The CR/CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi) rate was 53% [9 in each arm; 14 CR (41%) and 4 CRi (12%)], attained in 6 of 14 patients with adverse cytogenetics and 4 of 7 with FLT3-internal tandem duplication mutations. Median follow-up was 11.2 months (range, 0.5-22.3), and median survival was 11.5 months (95% confidence interval, 5.2-16.7). Twenty-three patients (67.6%) were treated as outpatients and 10 of these patients required hospitalization for febrile neutropenia. No Grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicities required withdrawal from study. Tosedostat with cytarabine or decitabine is tolerated in older patients with untreated AML/MDS, results in a CR/CRi rate of >50%, and warrants further study in larger trials.

A phase I/II study of oral clofarabine plus low-dose cytarabine in previously treated acute myeloid leukaemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients at least 60 years of age.

Outcomes for older adults with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are generally poor, and new effective therapies are needed. We investigated oral clofarabine combined with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) in patients aged 60 years and above with relapsed or refractory AML or high-risk MDS in a phase I/II trial. A 3 + 3 dose escalation of oral clofarabine was followed by a phase II expansion with the aim of obtaining a complete response (CR) rate ≥30%. We identified 20 mg/d for 5 d as the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of oral clofarabine. A total of 35 patients, with a median age of 72 years, were treated. Of 26 patients enrolled at the MTD, 4 had treatment-related grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicities, but none died within 28 d. The observed CR rate and median survival were 34% [95% confidence interval (CI), 18-50%] and 6.8 months overall and 38% [95% CI, 19-57%] and 7.2 months at the MTD. The median disease-free survival was 7.4 months. Fifty-two percent (23/44) of cycles administered at the MTD were done without hospital admission. This combination of oral clofarabine and LDAC demonstrated efficacy with a CR rate of >30% and acceptable toxicity in older patients.

Development of a hematology/oncology ICD-10 documentation job aid.

Conversion to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) was mandated for October 1, 2014, but was delayed by one year. ICD-10 accommodates newly developed diagnoses and procedures and is expected to help measure quality of care. When implemented, it will impact oncology practices because of conversion costs, loss of productivity, and billing problems. Clinical documentation must meet the specificity required by ICD-10 codes or risk denial of payments, which are projected to dramatically increase. In preparation for the now delayed conversion, the ICD-10 transition team at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) examined the ICD-10 codes for primary hematology/oncology diagnoses and comorbidities of cancer and therapy seen at our institution to identify the need for and feasibility of developing a printable job aid to guide clinical documentation. We found that the variable complexity of ICD-10 codes in hematology/oncology frequently requires nonintuitive specificity likely to be overlooked without prompting. We were able to develop a succinct and facile documentation aid usable in both electronic and printed forms that includes all hematology/oncology diagnoses and the comorbidities most frequently seen in our multidisciplinary institution. This document is organized in a notebook format for easy review and will be continuously improved with feedback from practitioners. It is available for free download from the SCCA Web site.

Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease, Version 1.2015.

The NCCN Guidelines for Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease outline strategies for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients with a diagnosis of cancer or for whom cancer is clinically suspected. VTE is a common complication in patients with cancer, which places them at greater risk for morbidity and mortality. Therefore, risk-appropriate prophylaxis is an essential component for the optimal care of inpatients and outpatients with cancer. Critical to meeting this goal is ensuring that patients get the most effective medication in the correct dose. Body weight has a significant impact on blood volume and drug clearance. Because obesity is a common health problem in industrialized societies, cancer care providers are increasingly likely to treat obese patients in their practice. Obesity is a risk factor common to VTE and many cancers, and may also impact the anticoagulant dose needed for safe and effective prophylaxis. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the data supporting new dosing recommendations for VTE prophylaxis in obese patients with cancer.

Idarubicin, cytarabine, and pravastatin as induction therapy for untreated acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome.

Previous studies suggest that idarubicin/cytarabine(ara-C)/pravastatin (IAP) is an active salvage regimen for patients with AML. We therefore investigated this regimen in patients with newly-diagnosed AML or MDS (≥10% blasts). Patients were eligible if the anticipated treatment-related mortality (TRM) was <10%. Patients received pravastatin (1,280 mg/day po; days 1-8), cytarabine (1.5 g/m(2) /day; days 4-7), and idarubicin (12 mg/m(2) /day, days 4-6). Up to 3 cycles of consolidation with a shortened course was permitted. The primary endpoints were "good CR" rate (CR on day 35 without minimal residual disease) and TRM in the first 28 days. The study was to stop if after each cohort of 5 patients (a) the Bayesian posterior probability was < 5% that the true "good CR rate" was ≥ 70% or (b) the posterior probability was >25% that the TRM rate was ≥5%. Twenty-four patients were included. Conventional CR was achieved in 15 (63%) patients but only 12 (50%) achieved "good CR". 4 of 12 (33%) patients with "good CR" relapsed at median of 16 weeks (10.5-19). Five (21%) patients had refractory disease. Survival probability at 1 year was 72% (48.7-64). Two (8.3%) patients died within 28 days from multiorgan failure. The most common grade 3-4 adverse effects were febrile neutropenia (75%) and diarrhea (25%). Based on the stopping rules accrual ceased after entry of these 24 patients. IAP did not meet the predefined efficacy criteria for success. Therefore, we would not recommend this regimen for phase three testing in this patient subset.

G-CSF priming, clofarabine, and high dose cytarabine (GCLAC) for upfront treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, advanced myelodysplastic syndrome or advanced myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Prior study of the combination of clofarabine and high dose cytarabine with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) priming (GCLAC) in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia resulted in a 46% rate of complete remission despite unfavorable risk cytogenetics. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the remission rate and survival with GCLAC were superior to FLAG (fludarabine, cytarabine, G-CSF) in the relapsed setting. We therefore initiated a study of the GCLAC regimen in the upfront setting in a multicenter trial. The objectives were to evaluate the rates of complete remission (CR), overall and relapse-free survival (OS and RFS), and toxicity of GCLAC. Clofarabine was administered at 30 mg m(-2) day(-1) × 5 and cytarabine at 2 g m(-2) day(-1) × 5 after G-CSF priming in 50 newly-diagnosed patients ages 18-64 with AML or advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or advanced myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). Responses were assessed in the different cytogenetic risk groups and in patients with antecedent hematologic disorder. The overall CR rate was 76% (95% confidence interval [CI] 64-88%) and the CR + CRp (CR with incomplete platelet count recovery) was 82% (95% CI 71-93%). The CR rate was 100% for patients with favorable, 84% for those with intermediate, and 62% for those with unfavorable risk cytogenetics. For patients with an antecedent hematologic disorder (AHD), the CR rate was 65%, compared to 85% for those without an AHD. The 60 day mortality was 2%. Thus, front line GCLAC is a well-tolerated, effective induction regimen for AML and advanced myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative disorders.

Outpatient bendamustine and idarubicin for upfront therapy of elderly acute myeloid leukaemia/myelodysplastic syndrome: a phase I/II study using an innovative statistical design.

Combinations of agents may improve outcomes among elderly acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. We performed an adaptive phase I/II trial for newly-diagnosed AML or high-risk MDS patients aged ≥50 years using a Bayesian approach to determine whether 1 of 3 doses of bendamustine (45, 60, 75 mg/m(2) days 1-3), together with idarubicin (12 mg/m(2) days 1-2), might provide a complete response (CR) rate ≥40% with <30% grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicity. We treated 39 patients (34 AML; five MDS with >10% marrow blasts; median age 73 years). None of the three bendamustine doses in combination with idarubicin met the required CR and toxicity rates; the 75 mg/m(2) dose because of excess toxicity (two of three patients) and the 60 mg/m(2) dose because of low efficacy (CR rate 10/33), although no grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicity was seen at this dose. Median survival was 7·2 months. All patients began treatment as outpatients but hospitalization was required in 90% (35/39). Although we did not find a dose of bendamustine combined with idarubicin that would provide a CR rate of >40% with acceptable toxicity, bendamustine may have activity in AML/MDS patients, suggesting its addition to other regimens may be warranted.

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin in combination with vorinostat and azacitidine in older patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia: a phase I/II study.

Epigenetic therapeutics such as the histone deacetylase inhibitor, vorinostat, and the DNA methyltransferase I inhibitor, azacitidine, enhance gemtuzumab ozogamicin efficacy in vitro. We therefore investigated vorinostat/azacitidine/gemtuzumab ozogamicin in 52 adults aged 50 years or over with acute myeloid leukemia requiring therapy for first relapse (remission duration ≤ 12 months) or primary refractory disease in a phase I/II trial. Vorinostat and gemtuzumab ozogamicin were escalated step-wise during the phase I portion of the trial. Vorinostat (400 mg/day orally from Days 1-9), azacitidine (75 mg/m(2)/day intravenously or subcutaneously from Days 1-7), and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (3 mg/m(2)/day intravenously on Days 4 and 8) were identified as the maximum tolerated dose. Among the 43 patients treated at this dose, 10 achieved a complete remission and 8 achieved a complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery, for an overall response rate of 41.9% (exact 95% confidence interval (CI): 27.0-57.9%). Four of these 18 patients (2 with complete remission and 2 with complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery) had persistence of minimal residual disease by flow cytometry at the time of best response. Four patients died within 28 days of treatment initiation. Median overall survival for the 18 patients achieving complete remission/complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery was significantly longer than for those 21 patients who failed therapy but lived at least 29 days after treatment initiation (224.5 days (range 70-798) vs. 95 days (range 36-900); P=0.0023). These data indicate that vorinostat/azacitidine/gemtuzumab ozogamicin has activity in this difficult-to-treat acute myeloid leukemia patient subset. (ClinicalTrials.gov: identifier 00895934).