Cytoreductive chemotherapy in induction therapy plays a key role in the prognosis of patients with low-risk acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

In order to explore the risk factors of relapse and potential optimized therapeutic regimen of low-risk acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), here we retrospectively analysed 282 patients who were diagnosed between February 2014 and September 2021. The median follow-up was 59 (9-102) months. The 5-year overall survival and cumulative relapse incidence were 97.9% and 5.9%, respectively. In terms of different cytoreductive therapies, 86 patients were administered with hydroxycarbamide (30.5%), 113 with anthracyclines or cytarabine (40.1%), 31 with etoposide (11.0%) and 52 with no cytoreductive therapy (18.4%) during the induction therapy. The hydroxycarbamide treatment group did not decrease the relapse rate compared to the no cytoreduction group (11.4% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.289). Compared with the hydroxycarbamide group, the anthracyclines/cytarabine treatment group showed improved 5-year RFS (88.145% vs. 98.113%, p = 0.008). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that myeloblasts in bone marrow at diagnosis, and PML-RARA transcript level of 6.5% or more after induction therapy were associated with a subsequent risk of relapse. The only factor positively reducing the relapse rate was anthracyclines/cytarabine cytoreductive treatment. In conclusion, cytoreductive chemotherapy in induction therapy plays a potential key role in the prognosis of low-risk APL.

A complete oral regimen for induction therapy of patients with high-risk APL: An oral etoposide instead of intravenous infusion for cytoreductive chemotherapy.

There is an urgent need for an oral, efficient and safe regimen for high-risk APL under the pandemic of COVID-19. We retrospectively analysed 60 high-risk APL patients. For induction therapy (IT), in addition to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and oral arsenic (RIF), 22 patients received oral etoposide (VP16) as cytotoxic chemotherapy (CC), and 38 patients received intravenous CC as historical control group. The median dose of oral VP16 was 1000 mg [interquartile rage (IQR), 650-1250]. One patient died during IT in the control group, 59 evaluable patients (100%) achieved complete haematological remission (CHR) after IT and complete molecular remission (CMR) after consolidation therapy. The median time to CHR and CMR was 36 days (33.8-44) versus 35 days (32-42; p = 0.75) and 3 months (0.8-3.5) versus 3.3 months (2.4-3.7; p = 0.58) in the oral VP16 group and in the control group. Two (9.1%) and 3 (7.9%) patients experienced molecular relapse in different group respectively. The 2-year estimated overall survival and event-free survival were 100% versus 94.7% (p = 0.37) and 90.9% versus 89.5% (p = 0.97) respectively. A completely oral, efficient and safe induction regimen including oral VP16 as cytoreductive chemotherapy combined with ATRA and RIF is more convenient to administer for patients with high-risk APL.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is still a highly curative therapy in adults with philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The application of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and novel immunotherapies has improved outcomes in patients with Ph + acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), and the issue of whether there is still a need for stem cell transplantation has become controversial. We performed a retrospective study to explore whether stem cell transplantation still held a place in patients with Ph + ALL if only imatinib and 2nd generation TKIs are available and affordable. A total of 292 patients were included. The median age was 38 years [range 14-64, IQR 28-48]. Patients receiving transplants (n = 216) had better rates of 4-year disease-free survival (DFS, 68% vs. 24%, P < .0001) and overall survival (OS, 72% vs. 47%, P < .0001) than those receiving continuous TKIs plus chemotherapy (TKI-chemo) (n = 76). In the multivariate analysis, male sex, WBC count ≥ 95 × 109/L and PLT count ≤ 154 × 109/L at diagnosis were significantly associated with poorer outcomes, and transplantation was significantly associated with favourable DFS and OS. In addition, the transplant outcomes were superior in any subgroup according to the number of risk variables. Furthermore, propensity score matching (PSM) analyses showed similar findings in the whole cohort and in age- and BCR-ABL1 level-based subgroups after the first or second consolidation. In conclusion, transplantation as a one-time procedure for adults with Ph + ALL patients remains important in countries lacking accessibility to third-generation TKIs or immunotherapies, regardless of the depth of the molecular response.

Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is a potential biomarker in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by the highly heterogeneity of pathogenic genetic background, and there are still approximately 30-40% of patients without clear molecular markers. To identify the dysregulated genes in B cell ALL, we screened 30 newly diagnosed B cell ALL patients and 10 donors by gene expression profiling chip. We found that ECM1 transcription level was abnormally elevated in newly diagnosed B cell ALL and further verified in another 267 cases compared with donors (median, 124.57% vs. 7.14%, P < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of ECM1 transcription level at diagnosis was 0.89 (P < 0.001). Patients with BCR::ABL1 and IKZF1 deletion show highest transcription level (210.78%) compared with KMT2A rearrangement (39.48%) and TCF3::PBX1 rearrangement ones (30.02%) (all P < 0.05). Also, the transcription level of ECM1 was highly correlated with the clinical course, as 20 consecutive follow-up cases indicated. The 5-year OS of patients (non-KMT2A and non-TCF3::PBX1 rearrangement) with high ECM1 transcription level was significantly worse than the lower ones (18.7% vs. 72.9%, P < 0.001) and high ECM1 transcription level was an independent risk factor for OS (HR = 5.77 [1.75-19.06], P = 0.004). After considering transplantation, high ECM1 transcription level was not an independent risk factor, although OS was still poor (low vs. high, 71.1% vs. 56.8%, P = 0.038). Our findings suggested that ECM1 may be a potential molecular marker for diagnosis, minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring, and prognosis prediction of B cell ALL.Trial registration Trial Registration Registered in the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau Registration N 2007-1007 and in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry [ChiCTR-OCH-10000940 and ChiCTR-OPC-14005546]; http://www.chictr.org.cn .

Usefulness of KIT mutant transcript levels for monitoring measurable residual disease in t (8;21) acute myeloid leukemia.

In addition to RUNX1::RUNX1T1 transcript levels, measurable residual disease monitoring using KIT mutant (KITmut ) DNA level is reportedly predictive of relapse in t (8; 21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the usefulness of KITmut transcript levels remains unknown. A total of 202 bone marrow samples collected at diagnosis and during treatment from 52 t (8; 21) AML patients with KITmut (D816V/H/Y or N822K) were tested for KITmut transcript levels using digital polymerase chain reaction. The individual optimal cutoff values of KITmut were identified by performing receiver operating characteristics curve analysis for relapse at each of the following time points: at diagnosis, after achieving complete remission (CR), and after Course 1 and 2 consolidations. The cutoff values were used to divide the patients into the KITmut -high (KIT_H) group and the KITmut -low (KIT_L) group. The KIT_H patients showed significantly lower relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates than the KIT_L patients after Course 1 consolidation (p = 0.0040 and 0.021, respectively) and Course 2 consolidation (p = 0.018 and 0.011, respectively) but not at diagnosis and CR. The <3-log reduction in the RUNX1::RUNX1T1 transcript levels after Course 2 consolidation was an independent adverse prognostic factor for RFS and OS. After Course 2 consolidation, the KIT_H patients with >3-log reduction in the RUNX1::RUNX1T1 transcript levels (11/45; 24.4%) had similar RFS as that of patients with <3-log reduction in the RUNX1::RUNX1T1 transcript levels. The combination of KITmut and RUNX1::RUNX1T1 transcript levels after Course 2 consolidation may improve risk stratification in t (8; 21) AML patient with KIT mutation.

ZNF384 fusion transcript levels for measurable residual disease monitoring in adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Zinc finger protein 384 (ZNF384) rearrangement defined a novel subtype of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The prognostic significance of ZNF384 fusion transcript levels represented measurable residual disease remains to be explored. ZNF384 fusions were screened out in 57 adult B-ALL patients at diagnosis by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and their transcript levels were serially monitored during treatment. The reduction of ZNF384 fusion transcript levels at the time of achieving complete remission had no significant impact on survival, whereas its ≥2.5-log reduction were significantly associated with higher relapse free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates after course 1 consolidation (p = 0.022 and = 0.0083) and course 2 consolidation (p = 0.0025 and = 0.0008). Compared with chemotherapy alone, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) significantly improved RFS and OS of patients with <2.5-log reduction after course 1 consolidation (p < 0.0001 and = 0.0002) and course 2 consolidation (p = 0.0003 and = 0.019), whereas exerted no significant effects in patients with ≥2.5-log reduction (all p > 0.05). ZNF384 fusion transcript levels after course 1 and course 2 consolidation strongly predict relapse and survival and may guide whether receiving allo-HSCT in adult B-ALL.

Prognostic significance of the frequencies of bone marrow lymphocyte subsets in adult acute myeloid leukemia at diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Immune microenvironment plays an important role in the occurrence and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies assessing the prognostic significance of bone marrow (BM) lymphocyte subsets' frequencies at diagnosis in patients with AML were limited. METHODS: Fresh BM samples collected from 97 adult AML patients at diagnosis were tested for lymphocyte, T, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, γδT, NK, and B cell frequencies using multi-parameter flow cytometry. RESULTS: Low frequencies of lymphocytes, T, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells were associated with significantly lower rates of one-course complete remission (CR) (all p < 0.05). Moreover, the frequency of CD4+ T cells independently predicted one-course CR achievement (p = 0.021). Low frequencies of T and CD8+ T cells were significantly associated with lower relapse-free survival (RFS) rates (p = 0.032; 0.034), respectively, and a low frequency of CD8+ T cells was associated with a significantly lower overall survival (OS) rate (p = 0.028). Combination of frequency of CD8+ T cells and ELN risk stratification showed that patients with ELN-intermediate/adverse risk + high CD8+ T cell frequency had a similar RFS rate to those with ELN-favorable risk + high CD8+ T cell frequency and those with ELN-favorable risk + low CD8+ T cell frequency (p = 0.88; 0.76), respectively. The RFS rate of patients with ELN intermediate/adverse risk + low CD8+ T cell frequency was significantly lower than that of all aforementioned patients (p = 0.021; 0.0007; 0.028), respectively. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of BM lymphocyte subsets at diagnosis predicted clinical outcomes and could help improve risk stratification in AML.

[Analysis of the characteristics of primary acute myeloid leukemia with 11q23/KMT2A rearrangements in ninety patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and prognostic characteristics of primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with 11q23/KMT2A rearrangements. METHODS: Clinical data of 90 patients with primary AML and 11q23/KMT2A rearrangements were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: By karyotyping analysis, 80 of the 90 patients had translocations involving 11q23/KMT2A, with t(9;11)(p22;q23), t(6;11)(q27;q23), t(10;11)(p12;q23) and t(11;19)(q23;p13) being the most common ones, while 10 cases were found to have non-translocation abnormalities. The overall complete remission (CR) rate was 75.6%, and patients with t(6;11) had lower CR rate compared with non-t(6;11) patients (47.1% vs. 82.2%, P = 0.005). After a median follow-up of 24.5 months, the patients receiving allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) had significantly higher 3-year overall survival (OS) (80.3% vs. 16.6%, P < 0.001) and 3-year event-free survival (EFS) (73.5% vs. 16.3%, P < 0.001) compared with non-transplant patients. Patients with t(6;11) had the lowest 3-year OS (11.8% vs. 56.0%, P < 0.001) and 3-year EFS (5.9% vs. 53.8%, P < 0.001) compared with other type of abnormalities. No significant difference was noted in the survival between patients with t(9;11) and non-t(9;11) regardless whether they had received HSCT. CONCLUSION: The clinical characteristics of primary AML with 11q23/KMT2A rearrangements are heterogeneous. Patients did not receive HSCT had poorer survival, particularly with the presence of t(6;11). Allo-HSCT could significantly improve the survival of such patients.

Comparison of efficacy between homoharringtonine, aclarubicin, cytarabine (HAA) and idarubicin, cytarabine (IA) regimens as induction therapy in patients with de novo core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia.

To compare efficacy between homoharringtonine combined with cytarabine and aclarubicin (HAA) and idarubicin and cytarabine (IA) regimens as first induction chemotherapy in patients with core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML). Cox regression model and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to identify the regimen associated with a better remission rate and outcomes. In total, 374 patients with CBF-AML (243 with RUNX1::RUXN1T1 and 131 with CBFB::MYH11) were included in this study. The patients received the HAA or IA regimen (187 each) as the first induction therapy. For patients with RUNX1::RUXN1T1, multivariate analyses showed that the HAA regimen was significantly associated with a higher CR/CRi rate after the first induction (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.3 [95% CI 2.3, 12.2]; p < 0.001) and more favorable relapse-free survival (RFS) (HR = 0.5 [0.3, 0.8], p = 0.01). In PSM analysis, the HAA regimen also had a higher CR/CRi rate (96% vs. 77%, p < 0.001), especially for those harboring wild-type KIT (KITWT) (96% vs. 83%, p = 0.02) or non-D816 KIT mutation (100% vs. 63%, p = 0.002), as well as more favorable RFS (p = 0.01), compared with the IA regimen. However, there was no difference in the remission rate or outcomes between the two regimens for patients with CBFB::MYH11. The HAA regimen as first induction chemotherapy resulted in a higher CR/CRi rate in AML patients with RUNX1::RUNX1T1, especially those harboring KITWT and non-D816 KIT mutation, and a more favorable RFS compared with the IA regimen. The efficacy between the two regimens did not differ in those with CBFB::MYH11.

CSRP2 transcript levels after consolidation therapy increase prognostic prediction ability in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Quantification of measurable residual disease (MRD) correlates with the risk of leukemia recurrence in adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, it remains unknown whether collecting data on cysteine and glycine-rich protein 2 (CSRP2) transcript levels, after completing the second course of consolidation, improves prognosis prediction accuracy. A total of 204 subjects with B-cell ALL were tested for CSPR2 transcripts after completing the second course of consolidation using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and divided into high (N = 32) and low (N = 172) CSRP2 expression cohorts. In multivariable analyses, subjects with high expression of CSRP2 had a higher 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-4.76; P = 0.003), lower 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) (HR = 3.22, 95% CI 1.75-5.93; P < 0.001), and overall survival (OS) (HR = 4.59, 95% CI 2.64-7.99; P < 0.001) in the whole cohort, as well as in the multi-parameter flow cytometry (MPFC) MRD-negative cohort (for CIR, HR = 2.70, 95% CI 1.19-6.12; for RFS, HR = 4.37, 95% CI 1.94-9.85; for OS, HR = 4.90, 95% CI 2.43-9.90; all P < 0.05). Prognostic analysis showed that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) could significantly improve the prognosis of patients with high CSRP2 expression (allo-HSCT vs chemotherapy: 5-year CIR, 52% vs 91%; RFS, 41% vs 9%; OS, 38% vs 20%; all P < 0.05). Our data indicate that incorporating data from CSPR2 transcript levels to the MRD-testing at the end of the second course of consolidation therapy enhances prognosis prediction accuracy in adults with B-cell ALL.

A global study for acute myeloid leukemia with RARG rearrangement.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with retinoic acid receptor γ (RARG) rearrangement has clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotypic features similar to classic acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, AML with RARG rearrangement is insensitive to alltrans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) and carries a poor prognosis. We initiated a global cooperative study to define the clinicopathological features, genomic and transcriptomic landscape, and outcomes of AML with RARG rearrangements collected from 29 study groups/institutions worldwide. Thirty-four patients with AML with RARG rearrangements were identified. Bleeding or ecchymosis was present in 18 (54.5%) patients. Morphology diagnosed as M3 and M3v accounted for 73.5% and 26.5% of the cases, respectively. Immunophenotyping showed the following characteristics: positive for CD33, CD13, and MPO but negative for CD38, CD11b, CD34, and HLA-DR. Cytogenetics showed normal karyotype in 38% and t(11;12) in 26% of patients. The partner genes of RARG were diverse and included CPSF6, NUP98, HNRNPc, HNRNPm, PML, and NPM1. WT1- and NRAS/KRAS-mutations were common comutations. None of the 34 patients responded to ATRA and/or ATO. Death within 45 days from diagnosis occurred in 10 patients (∼29%). At the last follow-up, 23 patients had died, and the estimated 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse, event-free survival, and overall survival were 68.7%, 26.7%, and 33.5%, respectively. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering using RNA sequencing data from 201 patients with AML showed that 81.8% of the RARG fusion samples clustered together, suggesting a new molecular subtype. RARG rearrangement is a novel entity of AML that confers a poor prognosis. This study is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200055810).

The prognostic significance of CRLF2 expression at diagnosis in adult Ph-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The prognostic significance of cytokine receptor like factor 2 (CRLF2) expression at diagnosis in adult B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) needs to be clarified. A total of 357 bone marrow samples collected from consecutive adult cases with Ph-negative BCP-ALL at diagnosis retrospectively detected CRLF2 transcript levels by real-time quantitative PCR. Twenty percent was selected as the cutoff value for CRLF2 to divide patients into CRLF2_H and CRLF2_L groups. CRLF2_H was associated with higher WBC count, P2RY8-CRLF2 fusion and IKZF1 deletions (IKZF1del). In both the whole cohort and B-other patients, CRLF2_H independently predicted lower CR rates after induction. Furthermore, CRLF2_H/IKZF1del(+) patients had significantly lower CR, RFS, and OS rates and tended to have lower RFS and OS rates than others in the whole cohort and B-other patients, respectively. Therefore, coexistence of CRLF2_H and IKZF1del at diagnosis predicts poor response and outcome in adult Ph-negative BCP-ALL.

High WT1 expression predicted induction chemotherapy failure in acute myeloid leukemia patients with non-favorable cytogenetic risk.

The prognostic significance of WT1 expression at diagnosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains obscure, and subgroup analysis is the way for clarification. We previously reported the results in t(8;21) AML. In this study, 437 consecutive adult AML patients with non-favorable cytogenetic risk were enrolled. All patients were tested WT1 transcript levels using real-time quantitative PCR at diagnosis; AML-related common fusion genes, KMT2A-PTD, FLT3-ITD, NPM1, CEBPA and TP53 mutations were simultaneously tested. 92.4% of patients overexpressed WT1 compared to normal bone marrow. The existence of FLT3-ITD, NPM1 mutation and the absence of CEBPA biallelic mutation were significantly related to higher WT1 expression. The cutoff value for WT1 was determined by performing receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in regard to complete remission (CR) achievement and was used to categorize patients into low-expression (WT1-L) and high-expression (WT1-H) groups. In the entire cohort, WT1-H was significantly associated with a lower 1-course and 2-course CR rate (P < 0.0010 and P = 0.0060) but was not related to relapse-free survival (RFS). Multivariate analysis showed that WT1-H was an independent adverse prognostic factor for both 1-course and 2-course CR achievement. Subgroup analysis was further performed. WT1-H had a significant adverse impact on CR achievement within intermediate-cytogenetic risk, high-cytogenetic risk, ELN-defined-intermediate-risk, normal karyotype, KMT2A rearrangement, FAB-M2, FAB-M5 and NPM1 mutation (+) subgroups, whereas it had no impact within ELN-defined-low-risk, ELN-defined-high-risk, FAB-M4, FLT3-ITD mutation (+) and CEBPA biallelic mutation (+) subgroups. Moreover, WT1-H patients had a significantly lower RFS rate than WT1-L patients within both FAB-M5 and KMT2A rearrangement subgroups (P = 0.010 and 0.028), whereas WT1 had no impact on RFS within other subgroups mentioned above (all P > 0.05). Therefore, high WT1 expression at diagnosis independently predicted induction chemotherapy failure in AML patients with non-favorable cytogenetic risk, and it was related to relapse just within FAB-M5 and KMT2A rearrangement subgroups.

Clinical features and outcomes of fusion gene defined adult Ph-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients: A single institutional report.

More clinical studies are needed to clarify the risk stratification by the integration of all fusion genes in adult B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). A total of 320 consecutive adult Ph-negative BCP-ALL patients who had been tested classical fusions (KMT2A rearrangement and TCF3-PBX1) at diagnosis were further retrospectively screened novel fusion genes (Ph-like, ZNF384 and MEF2D fusions) by multiplex real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR). Classical fusions were identified in 12.5% of patients, while 4.4%, 17.2% and 3.8% of patients were identified Ph-like, ZNF384 and MEF2D fusions, respectively. 1-course CR rate, relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates tended to show or showed statistically significant differences among fusion-defined subgroups (P = 0.084,  0.001 and 0.0093, respectively). Based on individual outcomes, patients with KMT2A rearrangement, TCF3-PBX1, Ph-like, and MEF2D fusions were classified into fusion-defined high-risk group (n = 66, 20.6%). High-risk group had significantly lower 3-year RFS and 3-year OS rates than standard-risk group (P 0.001 and = 0.0022), and was an independent adverse prognostic factor for RFS in the entire cohort (P 0.001). In conclusion, the spectrum of fusion genes in the current Chinese cohort was distinct from that in reports from western countries. Detection of fusion genes improved risk stratification in adult Ph-negative BCP-ALL patients.

Olverembatinib (HQP1351), a well-tolerated and effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor for patients with T315I-mutated chronic myeloid leukemia: results of an open-label, multicenter phase 1/2 trial.

BACKGROUND: BCR-ABL1T315I mutations confer resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Olverembatinib is a new potent BCR-ABL1 TKI with preclinical activity against T315I-mutated CML. In phase 1/2 studies, we explored the safety and efficacy of olverembatinib in Chinese adults with TKI-resistant CML in the chronic phase (CML-CP) and accelerated phase (CML-AP). METHODS: In the phase 1 study, olverembatinib was orally administered once every other day in 28-day cycles at 11 dose cohorts ranging from 1 to 60 mg, and we evaluated the maximum tolerated dose, recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of olverembatinib. In the phase 2 studies, olverembatinib was administered at the RP2D of 40 mg orally on alternate days for 28-day cycles. The primary outcome measure is major cytogenetic response (MCyR) and major hematologic response by the end of Cycle 12 in CML-CP and CML-AP, respectively. Fine and Gray's hazard models were used to identify covariates associated with responses. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients (> 80.0% of whom had received ≥ 2 TKIs) were enrolled in this study. Among 127 patients with CML-CP, the 3-year cumulative incidences of achieving MCyR, complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), major molecular response (MMR), MR4.0, and MR4.5 were 79.0, 69.0, 56.0, 44.0 and 39.0%, respectively. The highest response rates were observed in patients with a single T315I mutation. Among 38 patients with CML-AP, the 3-year cumulative incidences of achieving MCyR, CCyR, MMR, MR4.0, and MR4.5 were 47.4%, 47.4%, 44.7%, 39.3%, and 32.1%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, baseline BCR-ABL1 mutation status was significantly associated with cytogenetic and molecular responses. Common treatment-related adverse events included skin hyperpigmentation, hypertriglyceridemia, proteinuria, and severe thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Olverembatinib was well tolerated, with significant antileukemic activity in adults with TKI-resistant CML-CP and CML-AP, especially those with the T315I mutation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The phase 1 trial is registered at CTR20220566, and the two single-arm, open-label phase 2 studies are registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03883087 (CML-CP) and NCT03883100 (CML-AP).

Safety and outcomes of maintenance therapy with third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with T315I mutation.

Studies using third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) as maintenance therapy after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) harboring the T315I mutation remain scarce. We conducted a cohort study to evaluate the safety and outcomes of ponatinib maintenance therapy after HCT in Ph+ALL patients with T315I mutation. BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations were assessed using direct sequencing. Twenty-six Ph+ALL patients with T315I mutation who received allogeneic HCT were enrolled. After HCT, ponatinib was administered as a prophylactic regimen (n = 12) or a preemptive therapy (n = 7). Seven patients did not receive maintenance therapy. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 69.4 % of patients with ponatinib maintenance, but most presented with mild toxicities. Serious non-hematological AEs were not observed. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and cumulative incidence of relapse in patients receiving prophylactic ponatinib were 81.5 %, 91.7 %, and 18.5 %, respectively, whereas they were 39.8 %, 46.0 %, and 48.4 % in the total cohort, respectively. The measurable BCR-ABL transcripts in the first three months after HCT was associated with poor DFS and OS, even with ponatinib therapy. We concluded that maintenance therapy with ponatinib is safe after HCT. Patients with T315I mutation who received prophylactic regimen showed promising results with an acceptable relapse rate and encouraging survival. However, patients with measurable BCR-ABL transcripts early post-transplant had poor outcomes.

Low IL7R Expression at Diagnosis Predicted Relapse in Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients With t(8;21).

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;21) needs to be further stratified. In addition to leukemia cells, immune cells in tumor microenvironment participate in tumor initiation, growth and progression. Interleukins (ILs)/interleukin receptors (ILRs) interaction plays important roles in the antitumor immune response. IL7R is reported to be relevant to prognosis in solid tumor and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the prognostic significance of IL7R in t(8;21) AML remains to be clarified. Methods: Bone marrows collected from 156 newly diagnosed t(8;21) AML patients were used for testing IL7R transcript level by TaqMan-based real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR), and RNAseq were performed in 15 of them. Moreover, IL7R expression at diagnosis were measured by RQ-PCR and flow cytometry (FCM) simultaneously in other 13 t(8;21) AML patients. Results: t(8;21) AML patients had varied IL7R transcript levels and were categorized into low-expression (IL7R-L) and high-expression (IL7R-H) groups; IL7R-L was significantly associated with a lower relapse-free survival (RFS) rate (P=0.0027) and KITD816/D820 mutation (P=0.0010). Furthermore, IL7R-L was associated with a lower RFS rate in KITD816/D820 group (P=0.013) and IL7R-H/KITD816/D820 patients had similar RFS to KITN822/e8/WT patients (P=0.35). GO analysis enrichment showed that down-regulated genes were predominantly involved in the regulation of T cell and leukocyte activation, proliferation and differentiation in IL7R-L group. IL7R-L had significantly lower levels of Granzymes A/B, CCR7, CD28 and CD27 than IL7R-H group (all P<0.05). FCM analysis showed IL7R protein was primarily expressed in CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell subset. A significant association was found between the transcript level of IL7R and the percentage of CD8+ T cells in nucleated cells (P=0.015) but not CD4+ T cells (P=0.47). Conclusion: Low IL7R transcript level of bone marrow at diagnosis predicted relapse in t(8;21) AML, which might be caused by the difference in the amount, status and function of T cells.