First-Line Venetoclax Combinations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials of venetoclax plus anti-CD20 antibodies as first-line treatment in fit patients (i.e., those with a low burden of coexisting conditions) with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been lacking. METHODS: In a phase 3, open-label trial, we randomly assigned, in a 1:1:1:1 ratio, fit patients with CLL who did not have TP53 aberrations to receive six cycles of chemoimmunotherapy (fludarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab or bendamustine-rituximab) or 12 cycles of venetoclax-rituximab, venetoclax-obinutuzumab, or venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib. Ibrutinib was discontinued after two consecutive measurements of undetectable minimal residual disease or could be extended. The primary end points were undetectable minimal residual disease (sensitivity, <10-4 [i.e., <1 CLL cell in 10,000 leukocytes]) as assessed by flow cytometry in peripheral blood at month 15 and progression-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 926 patients were assigned to one of the four treatment regimens (229 to chemoimmunotherapy, 237 to venetoclax-rituximab, 229 to venetoclax-obinutuzumab, and 231 to venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib). At month 15, the percentage of patients with undetectable minimal residual disease was significantly higher in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab group (86.5%; 97.5% confidence interval [CI], 80.6 to 91.1) and the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group (92.2%; 97.5% CI, 87.3 to 95.7) than in the chemoimmunotherapy group (52.0%; 97.5% CI, 44.4 to 59.5; P<0.001 for both comparisons), but it was not significantly higher in the venetoclax-rituximab group (57.0%; 97.5% CI, 49.5 to 64.2; P = 0.32). Three-year progression-free survival was 90.5% in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group and 75.5% in the chemoimmunotherapy group (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.32; 97.5% CI, 0.19 to 0.54; P<0.001). Progression-free survival at 3 years was also higher with venetoclax-obinutuzumab (87.7%; hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.42; 97.5% CI, 0.26 to 0.68; P<0.001), but not with venetoclax-rituximab (80.8%; hazard ratio, 0.79; 97.5% CI, 0.53 to 1.18; P = 0.18). Grade 3 and grade 4 infections were more common with chemoimmunotherapy (18.5%) and venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib (21.2%) than with venetoclax-rituximab (10.5%) or venetoclax-obinutuzumab (13.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Venetoclax-obinutuzumab with or without ibrutinib was superior to chemoimmunotherapy as first-line treatment in fit patients with CLL. (Funded by AbbVie and others; GAIA-CLL13 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02950051; EudraCT number, 2015-004936-36.).

High karyotypic complexity is an independent prognostic factor in patients with CLL treated with venetoclax combinations.

Complex karyotypes have been associated with inferior outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with chemoimmunotherapy (CIT), whereas their prognostic impact in the context of venetoclax-based treatments is still debated. In this prospective analysis on karyotype complexity in CLL, we evaluated the impact of complex (≥3 chromosomal aberrations [CAs], CKTs) and highly complex karyotypes (≥5 CAs; hCKTs) as well as specific aberrations in previously untreated patients without TP53 aberrations undergoing either CIT or time-limited venetoclax-based therapies in the phase 3 GAIA/CLL13 trial. Karyotype analyses were available for 895 of 926 patients (96.7%), of whom 153 (17%) had a CKT and 43 (5%) hCKT. In the CIT arm, CKT was associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.58; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.54-4.32; P < .001) and overall survival (HR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.03-10.26; P = .044). In the pooled venetoclax arms, a multivariable analysis identified hCKTs (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.03-3.72; P = .041), but not CKTs, as independent adverse prognosticators for PFS. The presence of translocations (unbalanced and/or balanced) was also independently associated with shorter PFSs in the venetoclax arms. CIT led to the acquisition of additional CAs (mean CAs, 2.0-3.4; from baseline to CLL progression), whereas karyotype complexity remained stable after venetoclax-based treatments (2.0, both time points). This analysis establishes highly complex karyotypes and translocations as adverse prognostic factors in the context of venetoclax-based combination treatments. The findings of this study support the incorporation of karyotyping into the standard diagnostic workup of CLL, because it identifies patients at high risk of poor treatment outcomes and thereby improves prognostication. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02950051.

First-line venetoclax combinations versus chemoimmunotherapy in fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (GAIA/CLL13): 4-year follow-up from a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: In the primary analysis report of the GAIA/CLL13 trial, we found that venetoclax-obinutuzumab and venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib improved undetectable measurable residual disease (MRD) rates and progression-free survival compared with chemoimmunotherapy in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. However, to our knowledge, no data on direct comparisons of different venetoclax-based combinations are available. METHODS: GAIA/CLL13 is an open-label, randomised, phase 3 study conducted at 159 sites in ten countries in Europe and the Middle East. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, with a life expectancy of at least 6 months, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology group performance status of 0-2, a cumulative illness rating scale score of 6 or lower or a single score of 4 or lower, and no TP53 aberrations. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1), with a computer-generated list stratified by age, Binet stage, and regional study group, to either chemoimmunotherapy, venetoclax-rituximab, venetoclax-obinutuzumab, or venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib. All treatments were administered in 28-day cycles. Patients in the chemoimmunotherapy group received six cycles of treatment, with patients older than 65 years receiving intravenous bendamustine (90 mg/m2, days 1-2), whereas patients aged 65 years or younger received intravenous fludarabine (25 mg/m2, days 1-3) and intravenous cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m2, days 1-3). Intravenous rituximab (375 mg/m2, day 1 of cycle 1; 500 mg/m2, day 1 of cycles 2-6) was added to chemotherapy. In the experimental groups, patients received daily venetoclax (400 mg orally) for ten cycles after a 5-week ramp-up phase starting on day 22 of cycle 1. In the venetoclax-rituximab group, intravenous rituximab (375 mg/m2, day 1 of cycle 1; 500 mg/m2, day 1 of cycles 2-6) was added. In the obinutuzumab-containing groups, obinutuzumab was added (cycle 1: 100 mg on day 1, 900 mg on day 2, and 1000 mg on days 8 and 15; cycles 2-6: 1000 mg on day 1). In the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group, daily ibrutinib (420 mg orally, from day 1 of cycle 1) was added until undetectable MRD was reached in two consecutive measurements (3 months apart) or until cycle 36. The planned treatment duration was six cycles in the chemoimmunotherapy group, 12 cycles in the venetoclax-rituximab and the venetoclax-obinutuzumab group and between 12 and 36 cycles in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group. Coprimary endpoints were the undetectable MRD rate in peripheral blood at month 15 for the comparison of venetoclax-obinutuzumab versus standard chemoimmunotherapy and investigator-assessed progression-free survival for the comparison of venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib versus standard chemoimmunotherapy, both analysed in the intention-to-treat population (ie, all patients randomly assigned to treatment) with a split α of 0·025 for each coprimary endpoint. Both coprimary endpoints have been reported elsewhere. Here we report a post-hoc exploratory analysis of updated progression-free survival results after a 4-year follow-up of our study population. Safety analyses included all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02950051, recruitment is complete, and all patients are off study treatment. FINDINGS: Between Dec 13, 2016, and Oct 13, 2019, 1080 patients were screened and 926 were randomly assigned to treatment (chemoimmunotherapy group n=229; venetoclax-rituximab group n=237; venetoclax-obinutuzumab group n=229; and venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group n=231); mean age 60·8 years (SD 10·2), 259 (28%) of 926 patients were female, and 667 (72%) were male (data on race and ethnicity are not reported). At data cutoff for this exploratory follow-up analysis (Jan 31, 2023; median follow-up 50·7 months [IQR 44·6-57·9]), patients in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab group had significantly longer progression-free survival than those in the chemoimmunotherapy group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·47 [97·5% CI 0·32-0·69], p<0·0001) and the venetoclax-rituximab group (0·57 [0·38-0·84], p=0·0011). The venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group also had a significantly longer progression-free survival than the chemoimmunotherapy group (0·30 [0·19-0·47]; p<0·0001) and the venetoclax-rituximab group (0·38 [0·24-0·59]; p<0·0001). There was no difference in progression-free survival between the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib and venetoclax-obinutuzumab groups (0·63 [0·39-1·02]; p=0·031), and the proportional hazards assumption was not met for the comparison between the venetoclax-rituximab group versus the chemoimmunotherapy group (log-rank p=0·10). The estimated 4-year progression-free survival rate was 85·5% (97·5% CI 79·9-91·1; 37 [16%] events) in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group, 81·8% (75·8-87·8; 55 [24%] events) in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab group, 70·1% (63·0-77·3; 84 [35%] events) in the venetoclax-rituximab group, and 62·0% (54·4-69·7; 90 [39%] events) in the chemoimmunotherapy group. The most common grade 3 or worse treatment-related adverse event was neutropenia (114 [53%] of 216 patients in the chemoimmunotherapy group, 109 [46%] of 237 in the venetoclax-rituximab group, 127 [56%] of 228 in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab group, and 112 [48%] of 231 in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group). Deaths determined to be associated with study treatment by the investigator occurred in three (1%) patients in the chemoimmunotherapy group (n=1 due to each of sepsis, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, and Richter's syndrome), none in the venetoclax-rituximab and venetoclax-obinutuzumab groups, and four (2%) in the venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib group (n=1 due to each of acute myeloid leukaemia, fungal encephalitis, small-cell lung cancer, and toxic leukoencephalopathy). INTERPRETATION: With more than 4 years of follow-up, venetoclax-obinutuzumab and venetoclax-obinutuzumab-ibrutinib significantly extended progression-free survival compared with both chemoimmunotherapy and venetoclax-rituximab in previously untreated, fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, thereby supporting their use and further evaluation in this patient group, while still considering the higher toxicities observed with the triple combination. FUNDING: AbbVie, Janssen, and F Hoffmann-La Roche.

Long-term outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.

The role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) in multiple myeloma is controversial. We analyzed the results of 205 patients transplanted in one center during 2000-2017. Transplantation was performed on 75 patients without a previous autologous SCT (upfront-allo), on 74 as tandem transplant (auto-allo), and on 56 patients after relapse. Median overall survival (OS) was 9.9 years for upfront-allo, 11.2 years for auto-allo, and 3.9 years for the relapse group (p = 0.015). Progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.4, 2.4, and 0.9 years, respectively (p < 0.001). Non-relapse mortality at 5 years was 8% overall, with no significant difference between the groups. Post-relapse survival was 4.1 years for upfront-allo and auto-allo, and 2.6 years for the relapse group (p = 0.066). Survival of high-risk patients was reduced. In multivariate analysis, the auto-allo group had improved OS and chronic graft-versus-host disease was advantageous in terms of PFS, OS, and relapse incidence. Late relapses occurred in all groups. Allo-SCT resulted in long-term survival in a small subgroup of patients. Our results indicate that auto-allo-SCT is feasible and could be considered for younger patients in the upfront setting.

Observational evidence from patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in Finland between 2005-2015 show improved survival over time.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe treatment patterns of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients in routine practice settings, compare overall survival and time-to-next-treatment among patients treated in different time periods (2005-2008, 2009-2013, 2014-2015), and explore associated factors. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included adult CLL patients from the Finnish Hematology Registry. RESULTS: In total, 124 and 64 CLL patients received first- and second-line treatments, respectively. The use of first- and second-line treatments with bendamustine-rituximab (BR) increased, while chlorambucil-based treatments decreased over time. Patients treated in more recent years showed a trend towards longer first- and second-line survival. A trend towards inferior overall survival was detected in first- and second-line treatment with B/BR. First-line time-to-next-treatment was longer for patients treated in the later years towards 2015, while second-line time-to-next-treatment did not improve over time. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that improved treatment outcomes over time were likely influenced by patient characteristics and treatments, but also through other factors unexplored in this study. Hence, further research on the factors influencing patients' survival over time is needed. In particular, research on using B/BR in clinical practice is warranted.

Extracorporeal photopheresis in the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a serious complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The long-term outcome of the patients is poor. Various immunosuppressive agents have been proposed as the second-line therapy but none of them has turned out more effective than the others. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a treatment option that does not predispose the patients to severe side effects of the immunosuppressive drugs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed the treatment results of ECP in 52 patients with steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent aGVHD. Eighty-one percent of the patients suffered from a severe, Grade III or IV, aGVHD. ECP was started alone as the second-line treatment in 23 patients and in combination with an immunosuppressive drug in 18 patients. Eleven patients received ECP as the third-line or later treatment. RESULTS: A total of 62% of the patients responded, with 48% achieving complete response. In the patients with complete or partial response, the probabilities of survival at 4 years were 54 and 17%, respectively. The outcome of nonresponders was poor. The 1-year overall survivals of the patients with ECP as the second-line treatment either alone or in combination with an immunosuppressive drug or as the third-line treatment were 51, 28, and 18%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, starting ECP no later than 10 days after the start of the first-line treatment correlated with a good response and a consequent survival benefit. CONCLUSION: Extracorporeal photopheresis is an effective and well-tolerated treatment that should be considered as a second-line treatment for aGVHD.

Antibody response to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine after conjugate vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) given alone is ineffective in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and better antibody response is achieved with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). In this study, we determine whether CLL patients would achieve a significant antibody response and broaden their serotype coverage against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) with PPV23 given five years after the 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7). A total of 24 patients with CLL and eight controls were vaccinated with PPV23 five years after PCV7. Blood samples for evaluation of antibody response to PCV7 serotypes and PPV23 serotypes 5 and 7 were taken before vaccination and one month after it. Post-vaccination samples were available from 20 patients. IgG antibodies were measured with ELISA. Antibody concentrations after PPV23 were significantly lower in CLL patients for six of the PCV7 serotypes and for both PPV23 serotypes. Only 10% to 15% of CLL patients achieved an antibody response suggested to be protective against IPD. Hence, PCV7 given five years before PPV23 did not improve antibody response in patients with CLL. Based on our results, PPV23 given after a PCV primer is not useful against IPD in CLL patients.

Antibody persistence after pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are at a high risk for infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. A pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) can induce a significant antibody response for some CLL patients. In this study we investigated antibody persistence after PCV7 in patients with CLL. The study material comprised 24 patients with CLL and 8 immunocompetent controls. The median antibody concentrations five years after PCV7 were lower for six pneumococcal serotypes in patients with CLL compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Depending on the serotype, the percentage of the CLL patients with antibody levels suggested to provide protection against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) varied from 29 to 71% five years after vaccination. This data suggests that PCV could result in antibody persistence at least five years in CLL patients.

Baseline Characteristics Predicting Very Good Outcome of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Young Patients With High Cytogenetic Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - A Retrospective Analysis From the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT.

BACKGROUND: Patients with genetically high-risk relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia have shorter median progression-free survival (PFS) with kinase- and BCL2-inhibitors (KI, BCL2i). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT) may result in sustained PFS, especially in younger patients because of its age-dependent non-relapse mortality (NRM) risk, but outcome data are lacking for this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Risk factors for 2-year NRM and 8-year PFS were identified in patients < 50 years in an updated European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry cohort (n = 197; median follow-up, 90.4 months) by Cox regression modeling, and predicted probabilities of NRM and PFS of 2 reference patients with favorable or unfavorable characteristics were plotted. RESULTS: Predictors for poor 8-year PFS were no remission at the time of alloHCT (hazard ratio [HR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.5) and partially human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched unrelated donor (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5-5.2). The latter variable also predicted a higher risk of 2-year NRM (HR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4-11.6) compared with HLA-matched sibling donors. Predicted 2-year NRM and 8-year PFS of a high cytogenetic risk (del(17p) and/or del(11q)) patient in remission with a matched related donor were 12% (95% CI, 3%-22%) and 54% (95% CI, 38%-69%), and for an unresponsive patient with a female partially HLA-matched unrelated donor 37% (95% CI, 12%-62%) and 38% (95% CI, 13%-63%). CONCLUSION: Low predicted NRM and high 8-year PFS in favorable transplant high cytogenetic risk patients compares favorably with outcomes with KI or BCL2i. Taking into account the amount of uncertainty for predicting survival after alloHCT and after sequential administration of KI and BCL2i, alloHCT remains a valid option for younger patients with high cytogenetic risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia with a well-HLA-matched donor.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in patients with haematological malignancies before routine use of conjugate vaccines in Finland.

The baseline national invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence rate, serotype distribution and serotype coverage of pneumococcal vaccines were evaluated in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, myeloma and leukaemia within 1 year after haematological diagnosis during 1995-2002, before introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Pneumococcal serotype distribution among these patients was different from serotypes causing IPD in the general population. The serotype coverages of PCV13 and PPSV23 were 57% and 64%, respectively, lower than in the general population. This reflects a higher predisposition to IPD in vaccinated patients with haematological malignancies and possibly less benefit of herd immunity gained with the wide use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in the general population. This data will be useful as a baseline for determining the future role of adult PCV vaccination in these patient groups.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity and expression in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

UNLABELLED: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity and expression is increased in many hematological malignancies, but has not been previously studied in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We determined IDO activity and expression in 49 patients with CLL. We found that IDO activity is increased in CLL. This may have some influence on CLL progression. BACKGROUND: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an enzyme involved in the catabolism of tryptophan, suppressing T-cell activity. IDO activity and expression are increased in many malignant diseases, including hematological malignancies. IDO expression can mediate immunotolerance to tumors. IDO activity and expression have not previously been studied in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). METHODS: We measured IDO activity by calculating the kynurenine-tryptophan (kyn-trp) ratio. IDO and IDO2 gene expression was determined by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: In patients with CLL, the serum kyn-trp ratio--reflecting increased IDO activity--was significantly higher compared with controls, but in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)--mainly representing malignant B cells--the expression of genes encoding IDO and IDO2 enzymes was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Increased IDO activity in patients with CLL may affect disease progression, although it originates from cells other than malignant B cells.