Surrogates of Endothelial Injury Predict Survival After Post-transplant Cyclophosphamide.

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) is becoming the standard of care for preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHCT). Cyclophosphamide is associated with endothelial injury. We hypothesized that the endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) score, being a marker of endothelial dysfunction, will predict non-relapse mortality (NRM) in alloHCT patients receiving PT-Cy for GVHD prophylaxis. We evaluate the prognostic ability of the hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) and EASIX scores, and report other factors influencing survival, in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing alloHCT and receiving PT-Cy-based GVHD prophylaxis. Adult patients with hematologic malignancies who underwent alloHCT and received PT-Cy for GVHD prophylaxis at the three Mayo Clinic locations were included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed the Mayo Clinic database and the available electronic medical records to determine the patient, disease, and transplant characteristics. An HCT-CI score of ≥3 was considered high. The EASIX score was calculated from labs available between day -28 (of alloHCT) to the day of starting conditioning and analyzed on log2 transformed values. A log2-EASIX score ≥2.32 was considered high. The cumulative incidence of NRM was determined using competing risk analysis, with relapse considered as competing risk. Overall survival (OS) from transplant was determined using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. Cox-proportional hazard method was used to evaluate factors impacting survival. A total of 199 patients were evaluated. Patients with a high log2-EASIX score had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of NRM at 1 year after alloHCT (34.5% versus 12.3%, P = .003). Competing risk analysis showed that a high log2-EASIX score (HR 2.92, 95% CI 1.38 to 6.17, P = .005) and pre-alloHCT hypertension (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.36, P = .034) were independently predictive of 1 year-NRM. Accordingly, we combined the two factors to develop a composite risk model stratifying patients in low, intermediate, and high-risk groups: 111 (55.8%) patients were considered low-risk, 76 (38.2%) were intermediate and 12 (6%) were high-risk. Compared to patients in the low-risk group, the intermediate (HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.31 to 4.33, P = .005) and high-risk (HR 5.77, 95% CI 2.31 to 14.39, P < .001) groups were associated with a significantly inferior 1-year OS. Multiorgan failure (MOF) was among the common causes of NRM (14/32, 43.8%) particularly among patients with prior pulmonary comorbidities [7 (50%) patients]. Our study shows that EASIX score is predictive of survival after PT-Cy. The novel EASIX-HTN composite risk model may stratify patients prior to transplant. MOF is a common cause of NRM in patients receiving PT-Cy, particularly among patients with pulmonary comorbidities.

The impact of cytotoxic therapy on the risk of progression and death in clonal cytopenia(s) of undetermined significance.

ABSTRACT: Clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS) is defined by a myeloid driver mutation in the context of otherwise unexplained cytopenia. CCUS has an inherent risk of progressing to myeloid neoplasm. However, it is unknown how exposure to previous cytotoxic therapy may impact the risk of progression and survival. We stratified patients with CCUS by prior exposure to DNA-damaging therapy. Of 151 patients, 46 (30%) had received cytotoxic therapy and were classified as therapy-related CCUS (t-CCUS), whereas 105 (70%) had de novo CCUS. A lower proportion of t-CCUS had hypercellular marrows (17.8% vs 44.8%, P = .002) but had higher median bone marrow blast percentages. After a median follow-up of 2.2 years, t-CCUS had significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS, 1.8 vs 6.3 years; hazard ratio [HR], 2.1; P = .007) and median overall survival (OS; 3.6 years vs not reached; HR, 2.3; P = .007) compared with CCUS. Univariable and multivariable time-to-event analyses showed that exposure to cytotoxic therapy independently accounted for inferior PFS and OS. Despite the similarities in clinical presentation between CCUS and t-CCUS, we show that exposure to prior cytotoxic therapies was an independent risk factor for inferior outcomes. This suggests that t-CCUS represents a unique clinical entity that needs more stringent monitoring or earlier intervention strategies.

Features and Factors Associated With Myeloid Neoplasms After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy.

This case-control study examines the incidence and risks of myeloid neoplasms in adults treated for B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders or multiple myeloma.

Genetic landscape and clinical outcomes of patients with BCOR mutated myeloid neoplasms.

The BCL6-corepressor (BCOR) is a tumor-suppressor gene located on the short arm of chromosome X. Data are limited regarding factors predicting survival in BCOR-mutated (mBCOR) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We evaluated 138 patients with mBCOR myeloid disorders, of which 36 (26.1%) had AML and 63 (45.6%) had MDS. Sixty-six (47.8%) patients had a normal karyotype while 18 (13%) patients had complex karyotype. BCOR-mutated MDS/AML were highly associated with RUNX1 and U2AF1 co-mutations. In contrast, TP53 mutation was infrequently seen with mBCOR MDS. Patients with an isolated BCOR mutation had similar survival compared to those with high-risk co-mutations by European LeukemiaNet (ELN) 2022 criteria (median OS 1.16 vs. 1.27 years, P=0.46). Complex karyotype adversely impacted survival among mBCOR AML/MDS (HR 4.12, P<0.001), while allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) improved survival (HR 0.38, P=0.04). However, RUNX1 co-mutation was associated with an increased risk of post-alloSCT relapse (HR 88.0, P=0.02), whereas melphalan-based conditioning was associated with a decreased relapse risk (HR 0.02, P=0.01). We conclude that mBCOR is a high-risk feature across MDS/AML, and that alloSCT improves survival in this population.

The clinical and molecular spectrum of ETV6 mutated myeloid neoplasms.

ETV6 mutations are rare but recurrent somatic events in myeloid neoplasms and are negatively prognostic in myelodysplastic syndrome. We set out to examine the clinical and molecular characteristics of patients undergoing investigation for myeloid neoplasms, found to have deleterious ETV6 mutations. ETV6 mutations occurred in 33 of 5793 (0.6%) cases investigated and predominantly in high-risk disease entities including MDS with increased blasts, primary myelofibrosis and AML, myelodysplasia-related. In three cases, isolated iso (17q) karyotype was concurrently detected, an otherwise rare karyotype in myeloid neoplasms. ETV6 mutations were frequently subclonal and never occurred as an isolated abnormality with ASXL1 (n = 22, 75%), SRSF2 (n = 14, 42%) and SETBP1 (n = 11, 33%) the predominant co-mutations. Restricting to patients with MDS, higher rates of ASXL1, SETBP1, RUNX1 and U2AF1 mutations occurred in ETV6 mutated cases, relative to a consecutive control cohort with wild-type ETV6. The median OS of the cohort was 17.5 months. This report highlights the clinical and molecular associations of somatic ETV6 mutations in myeloid neoplasms, suggests their occurrence as a later event, and proposes further translational research questions for their role in myeloid neoplasia.

Factors predicting survival following alloSCT in patients with therapy-related AML and MDS: a multicenter study.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) are aggressive myeloid neoplasms. Factors predicting post-allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) survival are not well-known. We studied the prognostic utility of factors at: t-MN diagnosis, pre-alloSCT, and post-alloSCT. Primary endpoints were 3-year overall survival (OS), relapse incidence (RI), and non-relapse mortality (NRM). Post-alloSCT OS did not differ between t-MDS and t-AML (20.1 vs. 19.6 months, P = 1), though t-MDS had a significantly higher 3-year RI compared to t-AML (45.1% vs. 26.9%, P = 0.03). In t-MDS, the presence of monosomy 5 (HR 3.63, P = 0.006) or monosomy 17 (HR 11.81, P = 0.01) pre-alloSCT were associated with higher RI. Complex karyotype was the only factor adversely influencing survival at all the timepoints. The inclusion of genetic information yielded 2 risk-categories: high-risk defined by the presence of pathogenic variants (PV) in (TP53/BCOR/IDH1/GATA2/BCORL1) and standard-risk (remainder of the patients) with 3-year post-alloSCT OS of 0% and 64.6%, respectively (P = 0.001). We concluded that while alloSCT was curative in a subset of t-MN patients, outcomes remained poor, specifically in the high-risk category. t-MDS patients, especially those with persistent disease pre-alloSCT were at increased risk of relapse. Disease-related factors at t-MN diagnosis were the most prognostic of post-alloSCT survival; utility of factors available later in the course, was incremental.

TP53 mutation variant allele frequency of ≥10% is associated with poor prognosis in therapy-related myeloid neoplasms.

Revised diagnostic criteria for myeloid neoplasms (MN) issued by the International Consensus Classification (ICC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended major change pertaining to TP53-mutated (TP53mut) MN. However, these assertions have not been specifically examined in therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (t-MN), a subset enriched with TP53mut. We analyzed 488 t-MN patients for TP53mut. At least one TP53mut with variant allele frequency (VAF) ≥ 2% with or without loss of TP53 locus was noted in 182 (37.3%) patients and 88.2% of TP53mut t-MN had a VAF ≥10%. TP53mut t-MN with VAF ≥ 10% had a distinct clinical and biological profile compared to both TP53mut VAF < 10% and wild-type TP53 (TP53wt) cases. Notably, TP53mut VAF ≥ 10% had a significantly shorter survival compared to TP53wt (8.3 vs. 21.6 months; P < 0.001), while the survival of TP53mut VAF < 10% was comparable to TP53wt. Within TP53mut VAF ≥ 10% cohort, the inferior outcomes persisted irrespective of the single- or multi-hit status, co-mutation pattern, or treatments received. Finally, survival of TP53mut patients was poor across all the blast categories and MDS patients with >10% blasts had inferior survival compared to <5%. In summary, TP53mut VAF ≥10% signified a clinically and molecularly homogenous cohort regardless of the allelic status.

Comparison of Pretransplantation Prediction Models for Nonrelapse Mortality in Patients with Myelofibrosis Undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is the only known curative treatment for myelofibrosis (MF). Risk assessment remains important for patient counseling and predicting survival outcomes for relapse and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). Outcome-prediction tools can guide decision-making. Their use in MF has relied on their extrapolation from other malignancies. The primary objective of this study was to assess the performance of the Hematopoietic cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), the augmented HCT-CI (aHCT-CI), and the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) in predicting NRM in patients with MF undergoing alloSCT. We retrospectively reviewed patients with MF undergoing alloSCT between 2012 and 2020 at the Mayo Clinic. Data were abstracted from the electronic medical record. EASIX score was calculated before starting conditioning therapy and analyzed based on log2- transformed values. We evaluated the log2-EASIX scores by quartiles to assess the effect of increasing values on NRM. NRM was evaluated using competing risk analyses. We used the Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods to evaluate OS. The Fine-Gray model was used to determine risk factors for NRM. The performance of HCT-CI and aHCT-CI was compared by evaluation of model concordance given the high correlation between HCT-CI and aHCT-CI (r = .75). A total of 87 patients were evaluated. The median duration of follow-up after alloSCT was 5 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4 to 6.31 years). Patients with a high HCT-CI score had significantly increased cumulative incidence of NRM at 3 years (35.5% versus 11.6%; P = .011) after alloSCT. A progressively increasing 3-year NRM was observed with increasing aHCT-CI risk category, and patients with a high or very high aHCT-CI score had significantly higher 3-year NRM compared to those with intermediate-risk or low-risk aHCT-CI scores at 3 years post-alloSCT (31.9% versus 6.52%; P = .004). An increasing log2-EASIX score quartile was not associated with 3-year NRM (19.0% versus 10.1% versus 25% versus 14.3%; P = .59), and the EASIX score was not found to be a predictor of post-transplantation NRM. A high HCT-CI was associated with significantly worse 3-year overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR], 4.41; 95% CI, 1.97 to 9.87; P < .001). A high or very high aHCT-CI was significantly associated with poor 3-year OS (HR, 3.99; 95% CI, 1.56 to 10.22; P = .004). An increasing log2-EASIX score quartile group was not associated with 3-year OS (3-year OS rate, 66.7% versus 80.4% versus 64.6% versus 76.2%; P = .57). The EASIX score should not be used routinely in patients with MF. Both the HCT-CI and the aHCT-CI are accurate in predicting long-term survival outcomes in this patient population. Further studies are important to validate our findings of the role of EASIX in predicting NRM in patients with MF or other myeloproliferative neoplasms undergoing alloSCT. © 2023 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Role of Germline Predisposition to Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasms.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs) are aggressive leukemias that develop following exposure to DNA-damaging agents. A subset of patients developing t-MN may have an inherited susceptibility to develop myeloid neoplasia. Herein, we review studies reporting t-MN and their association with a germline or inherited predisposition. RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging evidence suggests that development of t-MN is the result of complex interactions including generation of somatic variants in hematopoietic stem cells and/or clonal selection pressure exerted by the DNA-damaging agents, and immune evasion on top of any inherited genetic susceptibility. Conventionally, alkylating agents, topoisomerase inhibitors, and radiation have been associated with t-MN. Recently, newer modalities including poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) and peptide receptor radionucleotide therapy (PRRT) are associated with t-MN. At the same time, the role of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in genes such as BRCA1/2, BARD1, or TP53 on the risk of t-MN is being explored. Moreover, studies have shown that while cytotoxic therapy increases the risk of developing myeloid neoplasia, it may be exposing the vulnerability of an underlying germline predisposition. t-MN remains a disease with poor prognosis. Studies are needed to better define an individual's inherited neoplastic susceptibility which will help predict the risk of myeloid neoplasia in the future. Understanding the genes driving the inherited neoplastic susceptibility will lead to better patient- and cancer-specific management including choice of therapeutic regimen to prevent, or at least delay, development of myeloid neoplasia after treatment of a prior malignancy.

Outcomes following venetoclax-based treatment in therapy-related myeloid neoplasms.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) are aggressive malignancies in need of effective therapies. The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. However, the effectiveness of venetoclax has not been studied in a large cohort of t-MN. We retrospectively analyzed 378 t-MN patients, of which 96 (25.4%, 47 therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia, 1 therapy-related chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, 48 therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome) received venetoclax. Median interval from t-MN to venetoclax initiation was 2.9 (Interquartile range [IQR] 0.7-12) months, and patients received a median of 3 (IQR 1-4) cycles. The composite complete remission (CRc) rate, median progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 39.1%, 4.9 months, and 7 months, respectively. The upfront use of venetoclax and achieving CRc were associated with improved survival, whereas the presence of Chromosome 7 abnormalities was associated with an inferior survival. Neither the TP53-status nor the percent bone marrow blast predicted the likelihood of CRc or survival. Paired genetic analysis performed at venetoclax initiation and failure did not show the evidence of the selection of the TP53-mutated clone. In a propensity-matched analysis, the use of venetoclax-based regimen as the first-line therapy was associated with a superior survival compared to hypomethylating agent (HMA)-based first-line therapy (9.4 vs. 6.1 months, p = .01). We conclude that the upfront use of venetoclax with HMA improved survival, though PFS and OS remain poor. As the phenotype at diagnosis or the percent blasts did not predict outcomes, venetoclax should be studied in all t-MN phenotypes.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome in a Patient With Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a severe metabolic complication that usually occurs in patients with aggressive tumors who undergo treatment with chemotherapy. Traditionally, it was mainly associated with hematologic malignancies. However, over the past 4 decades, there have been increasing reports of TLS in solid tumors. We report a case of TLS in a patient with gastric cancer, as a complication of FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) chemotherapy. Our patient was a 48-year-old man with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma who presented with altered mental status and slurred speech. On examination, he was confused and disoriented, but the rest of his examination, including vitals, was unremarkable. Laboratory findings on admission were significant for an elevated uric acid of 14.5 mg/dL, creatinine of 4.1 mg/dL, and phosphorus of 6.9 mg/dL. He had received his first cycle of FOLFOX chemotherapy 4 days prior to admission. The constellation of electrolyte abnormalities and the temporal relationship to chemotherapy led to the diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced TLS. He was treated with aggressive fluid repletion and rasburicase, following which the electrolyte derangements resolved, and he improved clinically. This case highlights the importance of early recognition of TLS in patients with gastric cancer. Initiation of early treatment can reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this oncologic emergency.