A phase I trial of the trifunctional anti Her2 × anti CD3 antibody ertumaxomab in patients with advanced solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Ertumaxomab (ertu) is a bispecific, trifunctional antibody targeting Her2/neu, CD3 and the Fcγ-receptors I, IIa, and III forming a tri-cell complex between tumor cell, T cell and accessory cells. METHODS: Patients (pts) with Her2/neu (1+/SISH positive, 2+ and 3+) expressing tumors progressing after standard therapy were treated to investigate safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy. In this study, ertu was applied i.v. in 2 cycles following a predefined dose escalating scheme. Each cycle consisted of five ascending doses (10-500 µg) applied weekly within 28 days with a 21 day treatment-free interval. If 2 pts experienced a dose limiting toxicity (DLT) at a given dose level, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) had been exceeded. RESULTS: Fourteen heavily pretreated pts (e.g. breast, rectal, gastric cancer) were enrolled in the four main cohorts. Three (21 %) pts had to be replaced. Two serious adverse events (SAE) with possible relation to the investigational drug were seen, both fully reversible. A DLT was not detected. Consequently, the MTD could not be determined. All adverse events (AE) were transient and completely reversible. Most frequent AEs were fatigue (14/14), pain (13/14), cephalgia (12/14), chills (11/14), nausea (8/14), fever (7/14), emesis (7/14) and diarrhea (5/14). Single doses up to 300 µg were well tolerated (total dose up to 800 µg per cycle). We observed one partial remission and two disease stabilizations after first treatment cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Single doses up to 300 µg could be safely administered in an escalating dose scheme. Immunological responses and clinical activity warrant further evaluation in patients with Her2 over expressing tumors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT number: 2011-003201-14; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01569412.

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and oncology clinical research: an experts' perspective.

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic promises to have lasting impacts on cancer clinical trials that could lead to faster patient access to new treatments. In this article, an international panel of oncology experts discusses the lasting impacts of the pandemic on oncology clinical trials and proposes solutions for clinical trial stakeholders, with the support of recent data on worldwide clinical trials collected by IQVIA. These lasting impacts and proposed solutions encompass three topic areas. Firstly, acceleration and implementation of new operational approaches to oncology trials with patient-centric, fully decentralized virtual approaches that include remote assessments via telemedicine and remote devices. Geographical differences in the uptake of remote technology, including telemedicine, are discussed in the article, focusing on the impact of the local adoption of new operational approaches. Secondly, innovative clinical trials. The pandemic has highlighted the need for new trial designs that accelerate research and limit risks and burden for patients while driving optimization of clinical trial objectives and endpoints, while testing is being minimized. Areas of considerations for clinical trial stakeholders are discussed in detail. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the underrepresentation of minority groups in clinical trials; the approach for oncology clinical trials to improve generalizability of efficacy and outcomes data is discussed. Thirdly, a new problem-focused collaborative framework between oncology trial stakeholders, including decision makers, to leverage and further accelerate the innovative approaches in clinical research developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This could shorten timelines for patient access to new treatments by addressing the cultural and technological barriers to adopting new operational approaches and innovative clinical trials. The role of the different stakeholders is described, with the aim of making COVID-19 a catalyst for positive change in oncology clinical research and eventually in cancer care.

Correction: Standardisation and consensus guidelines for minimal residual disease assessment in Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR of e1a2 BCR-ABL1.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Standardisation and consensus guidelines for minimal residual disease assessment in Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR of e1a2 BCR-ABL1.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a powerful prognostic factor in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is used for patient stratification and treatment decisions, but its precise role in Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL is less clear. This uncertainty results largely from methodological differences relating to the use of real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) to measure BCR-ABL1 transcript levels for MRD analysis. We here describe the first results by the EURO-MRD consortium on standardization of qRT-PCR for the e1a2 BCR-ABL1 transcript in Ph + ALL, designed to overcome the lack of standardisation of laboratory procedures and data interpretation. Standardised use of EAC primer/probe sets and of centrally prepared plasmid standards had the greatest impact on reducing interlaboratory variability. In QC1 the proportion of analyses with BCR-ABL1/ABL1 ratios within half a log difference were 40/67 (60%) and 52/67 (78%) at 10-3 and 36/67 (53%) and 53/67 (79%) at 10-4BCR-ABL1/ABL1. Standardized RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and cycler platforms did not improve results further, whereas stringent application of technical criteria for assay quality and uniform criteria for data interpretation and reporting were essential. We provide detailed laboratory recommendations for the standardized MRD analysis in routine diagnostic settings and in multicenter clinical trials for Ph + ALL.

UGT1A1 promoter polymorphism increases risk of nilotinib-induced hyperbilirubinemia.

Nilotinib is a novel BCR-ABL inhibitor with significantly improved potency and selectivity over imatinib. In Phase I and Phase II clinical studies of nilotinib in patients with a variety of leukemias, infrequent instances of reversible, benign elevation of bilirubin were observed. Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) glucuronidates bilirubin in humans, and a polymorphism in the promoter of the gene that encodes it has been associated with hyperbilirubinemia during treatment with a number of drugs. Pharmacogenetic analysis of that TA-repeat polymorphism found an association between the (TA)7/(TA)7 genotype and risk of hyperbilirubinemia in Phase I patients with imatinib-resistant/intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or relapsed/refractory Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); this result was replicated in two separate analyses of the chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) CML arms of a Phase II study. As nilotinib is not known to be glucuronidated by UGT1A1, the combined impact of inhibition of UGT1A1 activity by nilotinib and genetic polymorphism is the most likely cause of the increased rate of hyperbilirubinemia.

Genomic imprinting of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) in chronic synovitis.

OBJECTIVE: To search for relaxation or loss of IGF-2 imprinting (LOI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissues. DESIGN: The genotype of IGF-2 was determined in 25 freshly isolated synovial tissue samples with signs of active inflammation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Imprinting was determined in synovial tissue mononuclear cells (STMC) of five informative heterozygous patients by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. Mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from six informative healthy donors were selected for control. RESULTS: In vitro proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ PB T cells, and also of CD19+ PB B cells was detectable upon mitogen stimulation. Furthermore, MHC II molecule expression on synovial B and T cells indicated in vivo cell activation. Monoallelic IGF-2 expression was seen in PBMC cultures from two healthy donors under both, resting and stimulating conditions. In two other PBMC cultures, LOI occurred exclusively after 24 h of stimulation. PBMC from two other healthy donors showed LOI under both, resting and stimulating conditions. Mitogen induced and spontaneous LOI was reversible in each one PBMC culture after 72 h. In contrast, none of the informative STMC cultures showed LOI. CONCLUSIONS: LOI in lymphocytes may occur spontaneously or inducible. However, longstanding activation of lymphocytes in RA synovitis appears not to be related to this mechanism.

PIC-1/SUMO-1-modified PML-retinoic acid receptor alpha mediates arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Fusion proteins involving the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) and PML or PLZF nuclear protein are the genetic markers of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). APLs with PML-RARalpha or PLZF-RARalpha fusion protein differ only in their response to retinoic acid (RA) treatment: the t(15;17) (PML-RARalpha-positive) APL blasts are sensitive to RA in vitro, and patients enter disease remission after RA treatment, while those with t(11;17) (PLZF-RARalpha-positive) APLs do not. Recently it has been shown that complete remission can be achieved upon treatment with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in PML-RARalpha-positive APL, even when the patient has relapsed and the disease is RA resistant. This appears to be due to apoptosis induced by As2O3 in the APL blasts by poorly defined mechanisms. Here we report that (i) As2O3 induces apoptosis only in cells expressing the PML-RARalpha, not the PLZF-RARalpha, fusion protein; (ii) PML-RARalpha is partially modified by covalent linkage with a PIC-1/SUMO-1-like protein prior to As2O3 treatment, whereas PLZF-RARalpha is not; (iii) As2O3 treatment induces a change in the modification pattern of PML-RARalpha toward highly modified forms; (iv) redistribution of PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) upon As2O3 treatment is accompanied by recruitment of PIC-1/SUMO-1 into PML-NBs, probably due to hypermodification of both PML and PML-RARalpha; (v) As2O3-induced apoptosis is independent of the DNA binding activity located in the RARalpha portion of the PML-RARalpha fusion protein; and (vi) the apoptotic process is bcl-2 and caspase 3 independent and is blocked only partially by a global caspase inhibitor. Taken together, these data provide novel insights into the mechanisms involved in As2O3-induced apoptosis in APL and predict that treatment of t(11;17) (PLZF-RARalpha-positive) APLs with As2O3 will not be successful.

High-performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection for the quantification of the BCR-ABL inhibitor nilotinib (AMN107) in plasma, urine, culture medium and cell preparations.

An isocratic and sensitive HPLC assay was developed allowing the determination of the new anticancer drug nilotinib (AMN107) in human plasma, urine, culture medium and cell samples. After protein precipitation with perchloric acid, AMN107 underwent an online enrichment using a Zirchrom-PBD precolumn, was separated on a Macherey-Nagel C18-HD column and finally quantified by UV-detection at 258 nm. The total run time is 25 min. The assay demonstrates linearity within a concentration range of 0.005-5.0 microg/ml in plasma (r(2)=0.9998) and 0.1-10.0 microg/ml in urine (r(2)=0.9913). The intra-day precision expressed as coefficients of variation ranged depending on the spiked concentration between 1.27-9.23% in plasma and 1.77-3.29% in urine, respectively. The coefficients of variation of inter-day precision was lower than 10%. Limit of detection was 0.002 microg/ml in plasma and 0.01 microg/ml in urine. The described method is stable, simple, economic and is routinely used for in vivo and in vitro pharmacokinetic studies of AMN107.

Heterogeneity in detecting Abl kinase mutations and better sensitivity using circulating plasma RNA.

Most studies test for mutations in the kinase domain of the abl gene in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using peripheral blood (PB) cells. Frequently, progression of the disease manifests with increased blasts in bone marrow (BM) and not in PB. Simultaneous analysis of plasma, PB cells and BM cells from 41 imatinib-resistant CML patients showed mutations in 63% of PB cells and 68% of plasma or BM cells (P = 0.04). In discordant patients, 13 mutations were detected in plasma, 11 in BM cells and 9 in PB cells. The T315I mutation was detected in plasma and BM but not PB cells in one patient. We detected no mutations in the plasma of 45 previously untreated CML patients, but two of these patients showed mutations in plasma and not cells by 9 months on therapy. Circulating plasma mRNA is a reliable alternative to BM mRNA for detecting ABL mutations.

A phase 1b/2b multicenter study of oral panobinostat plus azacitidine in adults with MDS, CMML or AML with ⩽30% blasts.

Treatment with azacitidine (AZA), a demethylating agent, prolonged overall survival (OS) vs conventional care in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). As median survival with monotherapy is <2 years, novel agents are needed to improve outcomes. This phase 1b/2b trial (n=113) was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of panobinostat (PAN)+AZA (phase 1b) and evaluate the early efficacy and safety of PAN+AZA vs AZA monotherapy (phase 2b) in patients with higher-risk MDS, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia or oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia with <30% blasts. The MTD was not reached; the RP2D was PAN 30 mg plus AZA 75 mg/m2. More patients receiving PAN+AZA achieved a composite complete response ([CR)+morphologic CR with incomplete blood count+bone marrow CR (27.5% (95% CI, 14.6-43.9%)) vs AZA (14.3% (5.4-28.5%)). However, no significant difference was observed in the 1-year OS rate (PAN+AZA, 60% (50-80%); AZA, 70% (50-80%)) or time to progression (PAN+AZA, 70% (40-90%); AZA, 70% (40-80%)). More grade 3/4 adverse events (97.4 vs 81.0%) and on-treatment deaths (13.2 vs 4.8%) occurred with PAN+AZA. Further dose or schedule optimization may improve the risk/benefit profile of this regimen.

Compensatory PI3-kinase/Akt/mTor activation regulates imatinib resistance development.

BCR/ABL-kinase mutations frequently mediate clinical resistance to the selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor Imatinib mesylate (IM, Gleevec). However, mechanisms that promote survival of BCR/ABL-positive cells before clinically overt IM resistance occurs have poorly been defined so far. Here, we demonstrate that IM-treatment activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor)-pathway in BCR/ABL-positive LAMA-cells and primary leukemia cells in vitro, as well as in a chronic phase CML patient in vivo. In fact, PI3K/Akt-activation critically mediated survival during the early phase of IM resistance development before manifestation of BCR/ABL-dependent strong IM resistance such as through a kinase mutation. Accordingly, inhibition of IM-induced Akt activation using mTor inhibitors and Akt-specific siRNA effectively antagonized development of incipient IM-resistance in vitro. In contrast, IM-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with BCR/ABL kinase mutations (n=15), and IM-refractory BCR/ABL-positive acute lymphatic leukemia patients (n=2) displayed inconsistent and kinase mutation-independent autonomous patterns of Akt-pathway activation, and mTor-inhibition overcame IM resistance only if Akt was strongly activated. Together, an IM-induced compensatory Akt/mTor activation may represent a novel mechanism for the persistence of BCR/ABL-positive cells in IM-treated patients. Treatment with mTor inhibitors may thus be particularly effective in IM-sensitive patients, whereas Akt-pathway activation variably contributes to clinically overt IM resistance.

BCR-ABL mediates arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis independently of its aberrant kinase activity.

In the prechemotherapy era arsenic derivatives were used for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the t(9;22) translocation, the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+). In acute promyelocytic leukemia response to arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been shown to be genetically determined by the acute promyelocytic leukemia-specific t(15;17) translocation product PML/RARalpha. Hence, we reasoned that As2O3 might have a selective inhibitory effect on proliferation of BCR-ABL-expressing cells. Here, we report that: (a) As2O3 induced apoptosis in Ph+ but not in Ph- lymphoblasts; (b) enforced expression of BCR-ABL in U937 cells dramatically increased the sensitivity to As2O3; (c) the effect of As2O3 was independent of BCR-ABL kinase activity; and (d) As2O3 reduced proliferation of chronic myelogenous leukemia blasts but not of peripheral CD34+ progenitors. In summary, these data establish As2O3 as a tumor cell-specific agent, making its clinical application in Ph+ leukemia feasible.

Chromosomal organization and localization of the human histone deacetylase 5 gene (HDAC5).

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are important participants in the remodeling of chromatin structure and in the regulation of eukaryotic proliferation and differentiation. We have isolated and characterized the human HDAC5 genomic sequence, which spans a region of 39,138 bp and which has one single chromosomal locus. Determination of the exon-intron splice junctions established that HDAC5 is encoded by 26 exons ranging in size from 22 bp (exon 1) to 285 bp (exon 12). Characterization of the 5' flanking genomic region revealed that the human HDAC5 promoter lacks both the canonical TATA and CCAAT boxes. The human HDAC5 mRNA encodes a 1122 aa protein with a predictive molecular mass of 121.9 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.84. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis localized the human HDAC5 gene to chromosome 17q21, a region which is characterized by frequent gains and losses of chromosomal material in several types of cancer.

Memorial lecture. Megakaryocytic growth factors: is there a new approach for management of thrombocytopenia in patients with malignancies?

C-mpl ligand acts primarily as a lineage-specific hematopoietic growth factor by promoting proliferation of megakaryocyte precursors and their differentiation into megakaryocytes and platelets. In addition to the ability of c-mpl ligand to support megakaryocytic development from CD34+ precursor cells, several lines of evidence also point to a stimulatory effect on hematopoietic stem cells. When recombinant thrombopoietin or pegylated megakaryocyte growth and development factor is administered to normal animals or humans, there is a dose-dependent increase in the platelet count. When administered following chemotherapy in animal models or humans, c-mpl ligands reduce the duration and sometimes the degree of thrombocytopenia. The issue of whether clinically relevant thrombocytopenia can be ameliorated has so far been more difficult to resolve. Because severe thrombocytopenia is not commonly seen with standard chemotherapy regimens, clinical studies examining c-mpl ligands for their ability to ameliorate chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia will focus on treatment of acute leukemias and bone marrow transplantation. The potential utility of c-mpl ligands for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemias, or in HIV infection, will have to be evaluated in the future. Possibly the greatest potential of thrombopoietic growth factors in the near future may be in transfusion medicine, to collect and to store platelets from healthy donors or in autologous settings.

Megakaryocytic growth factors: is there a new approach for management of thrombocytopenia in patients with malignancies?

C-mpl ligand acts primarily as a lineage-specific hematopoietic growth factor by promoting proliferation of megakaryocyte precursors and their differentiation into megakaryocytes and platelets. In addition to the ability of c-mpl ligand to support megakaryocytic development from CD34+ precursor cells, several lines of evidence also point to a stimulatory effect on hematopoietic stem cells. When recombinant thrombopoietin or pegylated megakaryocyte growth and development factor is administered to normal animals or humans, there is a dose-dependent increase in the platelet count. When administered following chemotherapy in animal models or humans, c-mpl ligands reduce the duration and sometimes the degree of thrombocytopenia. The issue of whether clinically relevant thrombocytopenia can be ameliorated has so far been more difficult to resolve. Because severe thrombocytopenia is not commonly seen with standard chemotherapy regimens, clinical studies examining c-mpl ligands for their ability to ameliorate chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia will focus on treatment of acute leukemias and bone marrow transplantation. The potential utility of c-mpl ligands for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemias, or in HIV infection, will have to be evaluated in the future. Possibly the greatest potential of thrombopoietic growth factors in the near future may be in transfusion medicine, to collect and to store platelets from healthy donors or in autologous settings.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the (4;11) translocation: combined cytogenetic, immunological and molecular genetic analyses.

Five cases of acute leukemia (AL) with the t(4;11) translocation were investigated for the immunoglobulin heavy chain, kappa, lambda, TCR beta and TCR gamma gene rearrangements. All patients presented with high-risk features and had survival times of less than two years. Two cases were classified by immunological phenotyping as acute null-AL(L), one case as pre B-cell ALL (CD10+) and two cases expressed both immature B-cell markers CD19 and CD24 and myelomonocytic markers CD15 and CD14, suggesting mixed lineage leukemia. In two cases more than two rearranged fragments for the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene could be detected by Southern blot analysis. In the other cases at least one allele of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene was rearranged. Germline configuration of the T-cell receptor genes and lack of light chain gene rearrangement suggest that an early B-precursor cell is involved in the transformational events in these cases of ALL. Our own and published data indicate that acute leukemia with t(4;11) translocation might be more frequently associated with more than two rearranged fragments for the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes and run a very aggressive course.

Differential expression of class II MHC antigens in subpopulations of human hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Expression of major histocompatibility complex class II Ags HLA-DR, HLA-DP, and HLA-DQ on human BM granulocyte-erythroid-macrophage-megakaryocyte CFU (CFU-GEMM), BFU-E, and CFU-GM was examined by indirect immunofluorescence, cell sorting, and complement-mediated cytotoxicity. BM, highly enriched for progenitor cells by depletion of mature hematopoietic elements, was further separated by sterile sorting into HLA-DR (-), low, intermediate, and high intensity HLA-DR (+), as well as HLA-DP (+) and HLA-DP (-) cell fractions and assayed for progenitor cell content. In addition, in the case of HLA-DR, CFU-GM response to inhibition by prostaglandin E was determined. Cell sorting and cytotoxicity data confirm that approximately 95% of assayable erythroid, myeloid, and multipotential progenitor cells expressed HLA-DR, whereas HLA-DQ Ags were undetectable. HLA-DR and HLA-DP Ags were co-expressed on 61% of these progenitor cells, predominantly those expressing HLA-DR at high intensity. Day 7 and 14 CFU-GM showed a trend toward segregation to the high HLA-DR (+) cell fractions, especially when recombinant human G-CSF was used to stimulate clone formation. Both day 7 and day 14 CFU-GMs were found predominantly in the HLA-DP (+) cell fraction. In contrast, BFU-E and CFU-GEMM were found in the low intensity HLA-DR cell fraction and predominantly in the HLA-DP (-) fraction. Both eosinophil CFU and cells giving rise to basophil/mast cells in suspension culture were found in the low and intermediate intensity HLA-DR fractions, but could be segregated into HLA-DP (+) and HLA-DP (-) cell fractions, respectively. Functional analysis of day 7 CFU-GM segregated, based upon HLA-DR intensity, indicated a positive correlation between increasing HLA-DR intensity and responsiveness to inhibition by prostaglandin E. Furthermore, only those CFU-GM expressing HLA-DR at high intensity could be removed by cytolytic treatment using a mAb anti-HLA-DR previously shown to be selective for CFU-GM responsive to PGE and in S phase of the cell cycle.

Restoration of impaired cytokine secretion from monocytes of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes after in vivo treatment with GM-CSF or IL-3.

Cytokine treatment in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) aims to overcome the maturation defects of myeloid lineage cells associated with cytopenia and cellular dysfunction of mature cells. Since phagocytes play a major role in host defense against microbial infection, we investigated cytokine secretion and oxygen radical release (ORR) from peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) in a total of 16 MDS patients, 12 patients with refractory anemia (RA) and four patients with RA and excess of blasts (RAEB). Interleukin (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), IL-1 beta, and IL-8 secretion from monocytes in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was significantly reduced in the 12 patients with RA compared to 12 healthy controls, whereas no difference was seen in ORR. We further assessed cytokine secretion from monocytes of 10 MDS patients before and after therapy with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-3, or a combination therapy with GM-CSF and cytosine arabinoside (AraC). In all 10 patients, secretion of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha from PBMC increased after cytokine therapy, whereas IL-8 secretion increased only in five patients with GM-CSF or IL-3 therapy receiving a dosage > or = 250 micrograms/m2 per day but decreased in all other patients. ORR increased in all patients on either GM-CSF or IL-3 therapy. These data indicate that the ability of monocytes to secrete secondary cytokines is impaired in MDS patients but can be restored by in vivo administration of GM-CSF and IL-3.

Effect of long-term treatment with recombinant human interleukin-3 in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

In a phase II study, involving nine patients with refractory anemia or refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts, the effects of treatment with recombinant human interleukin-3 (IL-3) on hematopoietic function were assessed. Doses of IL-3 ranging from 60 micrograms/m2 during weeks 1-6 to 125 micrograms/m2 during weeks 7-12 were administered as subcutaneous bolus injections three times per week for 12 weeks. Platelet counts increased in six patients. Platelet increase correlated with stable or decreased serum tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels, while an increase of TNF-alpha levels during IL-3 therapy occurred in patients with no change or a decrease of platelet counts. Leukocyte counts increased in two patients and reticulocytes in three, without an effect on hemoglobin levels. Morphological analysis of the bone marrow revealed an expansion of the myeloid compartment in seven of eight evaluable patients, mainly due to stimulation of the precursor cells. No improvement of the in vitro growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells was observed. Sequential cytogenetic analyses indicate that IL-3 treatment does not act preferentially on either the cytogenetically abnormal or the normal clones. These results suggest that long-term treatment with low-dose IL-3 stimulates megakaryopoiesis with increase of platelet counts, but that additional later-acting cytokines probably will be required to augment neutrophil and erythrocyte counts.

Efficacy and safety of imatinib mesylate (Glivec) in combination with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL).

Imatinib has marked antileukemic activity in advanced Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL), but secondary resistance develops rapidly, reflecting the limitations of single-agent therapy. Experimental data suggest that interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) enhances the antileukemic activity of imatinib. We therefore examined combined imatinib and low-dose IFN-alpha in six patients with Ph+ALL who were ineligible for stem cell transplantation. All patients had received imatinib for 0.5-4.8 months prior to IFN-alpha, for relapsed (n=3) or refractory (n=1) Ph+ALL or as an alternative to chemotherapy following severe treatment-related toxicity (n=2). Five patients were in hematologic remission (CR) with minimal residual disease (MRD+), one patient was refractory to imatinib. Four of the five MRD+ patients are alive in CR after a median treatment duration of 20 (11-21) months. Two of these patients are in continuous CR 21 months after imatinib was initiated, while the other two patients experienced an isolated meningeal relapse that was successfully treated with additional intrathecal chemotherapy. Sustained molecular remissions were achieved in three patients and are ongoing 13 and 10.5 months after central nervous system (CNS) relapse and 6 months after starting concurrent IFN-alpha and imatinib, respectively. Marrow relapse occurred in one of the five MRD+ patients. Combination treatment was associated with a complete marrow response of 5 months duration in the imatinib-refractory patient. Imatinib combined with low-dose IFN-alpha may achieve prolonged hematologic and molecular remissions in a subset of patients with advanced Ph+ALL, who are not candidates for allogeneic SCT. CNS prophylaxis is necessary and may enhance the antileukemic activity of imatinib and IFN-alpha.