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2.
Blood Cancer J ; 6(9): e473, 2016 Sep 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27662202

ABSTRACT

We compared outcomes from a single-arm study of blinatumomab in adult patients with B-precursor Ph-negative relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) with a historical data set from Europe and the United States. Estimates of complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) were weighted by the frequency distribution of prognostic factors in the blinatumomab trial. Outcomes were also compared between the trial and historical data using propensity score methods. The historical cohort included 694 patients with CR data and 1112 patients with OS data compared with 189 patients with CR and survival data in the blinatumomab trial. The weighted analysis revealed a CR rate of 24% (95% CI: 20-27%) and a median OS of 3.3 months (95% CI: 2.8-3.6) in the historical cohort compared with a CR/CRh rate of 43% (95% CI: 36-50%) and a median OS of 6.1 months (95% CI: 4.2-7.5) in the blinatumomab trial. Propensity score analysis estimated increased odds of CR/CRh (OR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.67-4.31) and improved OS (HR=0.536, 95% CI: 0.394-0.730) with blinatumomab. The analysis demonstrates the application of different study designs and statistical methods to compare novel therapies for R/R ALL with historical data.

7.
Leukemia ; 29(5): 1104-14, 2015 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25394714

ABSTRACT

Targeting BCR/ABL with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is a proven concept for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) leukemias. Resistance attributable to either kinase mutations in BCR/ABL or nonmutational mechanisms remains the major clinical challenge. With the exception of ponatinib, all approved TKIs are unable to inhibit the 'gatekeeper' mutation T315I. However, a broad spectrum of kinase inhibition increases the off-target effects of TKIs and may be responsible for cardiovascular issues of ponatinib. Thus, there is a need for more selective options for the treatment of resistant Ph+ leukemias. PF-114 is a novel TKI developed with the specifications of (i) targeting T315I and other resistance mutations in BCR/ABL; (ii) achieving a high selectivity to improve safety; and (iii) overcoming nonmutational resistance in Ph+ leukemias. PF-114 inhibited BCR/ABL and clinically important mutants including T315I at nanomolar concentrations. It suppressed primary Ph+ acute lymphatic leukemia-derived long-term cultures that either displayed nonmutational resistance or harbor the T315I. In BCR/ABL- or BCR/ABL-T315I-driven murine leukemia as well as in xenograft models of primary Ph+ leukemia harboring the T315I, PF-114 significantly prolonged survival to a similar extent as ponatinib. Our work supports clinical evaluation of PF-114 for the treatment of resistant Ph+ leukemia.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/metabolism , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics , Mutation , Pyridines/pharmacology , Triazoles/pharmacology , Animals , Antigens, Ly/metabolism , Apoptosis , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , DNA Mutational Analysis , Female , Humans , Imidazoles/pharmacology , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , K562 Cells , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Models, Molecular , Mutagenesis , Point Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/metabolism , Pyridazines/pharmacology , Translocation, Genetic , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/metabolism
10.
Leukemia ; 27(6): 1254-62, 2013 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23212150

ABSTRACT

Minimal residual disease (MRD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is predictive of relapse. Imatinib administration subsequent to SCT may prevent relapse, but the role of scheduling and its impact on outcome are not known. In a prospective, randomized multicenter trial, we compared the tolerability and efficacy of post-transplant imatinib administered either prophylactically (arm A; n=26) or following detection of MRD (arm B; n=29). Prophylactic imatinib significantly reduced the incidence of molecular recurrence after SCT compared with MRD-triggered imatinib (40% vs 69%; P=0.046). Median duration of PCR negativity was 26.5 and 6.8 months, respectively (P=0.065). Five-year survival in both interventional groups was high (80 and 74.5%), despite premature discontinuation of imatinib in the majority of patients because of poor tolerability. Relapse probability was significantly higher in patients who became MRD positive (P=0.017). In conclusion, post-transplant imatinib results in a low relapse rate, durable remissions and excellent long-term outcome in patients with BCR-ABL1-positive ALL irrespective of whether it is given prophylactically or MRD-triggered. Reappearance of BCR-ABL1 transcripts early after SCT or at higher levels identifies a small subset of patients who do not benefit sufficiently from imatinib, and in whom alternative approaches should be explored.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Benzamides/therapeutic use , Neoplasm, Residual , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy , Pyrimidines/therapeutic use , Stem Cell Transplantation , Adolescent , Adult , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Benzamides/adverse effects , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Imatinib Mesylate , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Compliance , Piperazines/adverse effects , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy , Pyrimidines/adverse effects , Survival Analysis , Young Adult
11.
Blood Cancer J ; 2(1): e55, 2012 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22829239

ABSTRACT

A subgroup of pediatric acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) was characterized by a gene expression profile comparable to that of early T-cell precursors (ETPs) with a highly unfavorable outcome. We have investigated clinical and molecular characteristics of the ETP-ALL subgroup in adult T-ALL. As ETP-ALL represents a subgroup of early T-ALL we particularly focused on this cohort and identified 178 adult patients enrolled in the German Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Multicenter studies (05/93-07/03). Of these, 32% (57/178) were classified as ETP-ALL based on their characteristic immunophenotype. The outcome of adults with ETP-ALL was poor with an overall survival of only 35% at 10 years, comparable to the inferior outcome of early T-ALL with 38%. The molecular characterization of adult ETP-ALL revealed distinct alterations with overexpression of stem cell-related genes (BAALC, IGFBP7, MN1, WT1). Interestingly, we found a low rate of NOTCH1 mutations and no FBXW7 mutations in adult ETP-ALL. In contrast, FLT3 mutations, rare in the overall cohort of T-ALL, were very frequent and nearly exclusively found in ETP-ALL characterized by a specific immunophenotype. These molecular characteristics provide biologic insights and implications with respect to innovative treatment strategies (for example, tyrosine kinase inhibitors) for this high-risk subgroup of adult ETP-ALL.

12.
Leukemia ; 26(7): 1475-81, 2012 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22230800

ABSTRACT

Imatinib is highly effective in newly diagnosed, but not in relapsed, Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations are associated with acquired imatinib resistance, but their role in primary resistance is uncertain. Using highly sensitive ligation-PCR and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), we identified baseline TKD mutations in 21% and 42% of imatinib-naïve patients with newly diagnosed (n=26) or recurrent (n=65) Ph+ ALL, respectively (P=ns). Within 4 weeks of starting the imatinib treatment, absolute levels of mutant bcr-abl transcripts increased significantly in patients with advanced, but not with de novo, Ph+ ALL. The net expansion of pre-existing mutant clones during imatinib treatment resulted in the rapid appearance of initially undetectable TKD mutations, which after 4 weeks were detectable in 70% of patients with advanced disease. There was a high degree of concordance between the type of mutations detected at relapse and during initial imatinib treatment. The profoundly different outgrowth dynamics of leukemic clones with bcr-abl mutations in imatinib-treated patients who differ in their disease history, provides clinical-translational evidence for a contributory role of non-mutational resistance mechanisms, possibly induced by prior chemotherapy. Moreover, the prevalence of pre-existing, clinically relevant TKD may have been underestimated in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-naïve patients with Ph+ ALL.


Subject(s)
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics , Mutation/genetics , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Pyrimidines/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Benzamides , Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic , Female , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/antagonists & inhibitors , Humans , Imatinib Mesylate , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology , Philadelphia Chromosome , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/epidemiology , Prevalence , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Remission Induction , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Young Adult
13.
Leuk Suppl ; 1(Suppl 2): S1-2, 2012 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27175230

ABSTRACT

The purpose of evaluating prognostic factors in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is, first, to stratify patients into adverse- or good-risk groups, second, to determine different treatment options accordingly and, third, to evaluate their potential outcome. Prognostic factors are particularly relevant for disease-free survival and overall survival.

14.
Ann Hematol ; 91(5): 737-742, 2012 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22048789

ABSTRACT

Gastrointestinal complications are frequent after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Main differential diagnoses are graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and viral infections. In this retrospective analysis, we included 50 patients with severe vomiting or diarrhea in the first year after allo-SCT. One hundred two biopsies obtained by colonoscopy or endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract were analysed by conventional histology for signs of GvHD and by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for viral DNA of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and other virus of the herpes family. DNA of HHV-6 was detected in 38 of 75 initial samples (51%) and in 19 of 27 follow-up biopsies (70%). In the initial samples (n = 75), HHV-6 DNA was detected in 20/37 (54%) biopsies in the presence of GvHD compared to 18/38 (47%) biopsies without signs of GvHD. At the time of the first endoscopic investigation, most patients received antiviral prophylaxis with aciclovir. None of the follow-up biopsies was HHV-6 DNA negative after antiviral treatment with aciclovir, foscarnet or ganciclovir. By univariate analysis, no risk factor for HHV-6 detection could be demonstrated. In this cohort of patients with severe gastrointestinal complications, there was no significant difference in the overall survival between patients with or without HHV-6 DNA detection in the gastrointestinal tract. In summary, the detection of HHV-6 DNA had no impact on overall survival. Moreover, antiviral therapy against HHV-6 was without effect. Thus, positive PCR results in GI tract samples do not necessarily reflect reactivation of HHV-6. Further studies are needed to define the significance of HHV-6 for GI tract symptoms after allo-SCT.


Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Diseases/virology , Graft vs Host Disease/virology , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Herpesvirus 6, Human/isolation & purification , Roseolovirus Infections/virology , Adult , Aged , Biopsy , Gastrointestinal Diseases/pathology , Gastrointestinal Tract/pathology , Gastrointestinal Tract/virology , Graft vs Host Disease/pathology , Herpesvirus 6, Human/genetics , Humans , Leukemia/complications , Leukemia/mortality , Leukemia/therapy , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Roseolovirus Infections/diagnosis , Transplantation, Homologous , Young Adult
15.
Leukemia ; 24(8): 1429-36, 2010 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20535151

ABSTRACT

Over expression of BAALC (brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic) predicts an inferior outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. To identify BAALC-associated genes that give insights into its functional role in chemotherapy resistance, gene expression signatures differentiating high from low BAALC expressers were generated from normal CD34(+) progenitors, T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and AML samples. The insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) was one of the four genes (CD34, CD133, natriuretic peptide receptor C (NPR3), IGFBP7) coexpressed with BAALC and common to the three entities. In T-ALL, high IGFBP7-expression was associated with an immature phenotype of early T-ALL (P<0.001), expression of CD34 (P<0.001) and CD33 (P<0.001). Moreover, high IGFBP7-expression predicted primary therapy resistance (P=0.03) and inferior survival in T-ALL (P=0.03). In vitro studies revealed that IGFBP7 protein significantly inhibited the proliferation of leukemia cell lines (Jurkat cells: 42% reduction, P=0.002; KG1a cells: 65% reduction, P<0.001). In conclusion, IGFBP7 was identified as a BAALC coexpressed gene. Furthermore, high IGFBP7 was associated with stem cell features and treatment failure in T-ALL. In contrast to BAALC, which likely represents only a surrogate marker of treatment failure in acute leukemia, IGFBP7 regulates the proliferation of leukemic cells and might be involved in chemotherapy resistance.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor , Gene Expression Profiling , Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins/genetics , Leukemia, B-Cell/genetics , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , Apoptosis , Base Sequence , Cell Line, Tumor , DNA Primers , DNA Replication , Humans , Immunophenotyping
16.
Vnitr Lek ; 56(3): 176-82, 2010 Mar.
Article in Czech | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20394203

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: We present two years' experience in the treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) according to the German GMALL 07/2003 study protocol at CELL (Czech leukemia study group--for life) hematological centers in the Czech Republic. METHODS: A total number of 37 patients were included in this analysis. We evaluated complete remission and molecular remission rate, incidence of relapse, patients' status at the end of the follow-up period, incidence of chemotherapy-related adverse events and causes of death. A statistical analysis of risk factors affecting survival was carried out. RESULTS: Complete remission was achieved in 36 (97%) patients and molecular remission in 16 (62%) of 26 evaluable patients. Disease relapse occurred in 5 (14%) patients. At the end of the follow-up period with a median of 261 days, 28 (76%) patients were alive in complete remission, one (3%) with relapsed disease and 8 (22%) dead. Treatment toxicity resulted in death in 5 cases, relapse or progression of ALL in 3 patients. Adverse events most often followed consolidation I, induction phase I, consolidation II and induction phase II. Infectious complications in the context of febrile neutropenia, GIT mucositis and side effects of PEG-asparaginase were the most common adverse events observed. The toxicity of allogeneic transplantation was not unexpected, four (25%) patients died after transplantation. Two-year progression-free and overall survival were 66% and 70%, respectively. High risk ALL, age over 35 years, CNS infiltration, disease relapse and permanent minimal residual disease were identified as the major adverse prognostic risk factors. Practical experiences and possible pitfalls of the protocol are described in the discussion. CONCLUSION: Our initial impression is promising. The treatment is feasible, the results very good and the toxicity acceptable. Patients at high risk should be headed to allogeneic transplantation, since the results ofconsolidation chemotherapy alone are very poor in this group. We believe that this study protocol could become a standard adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment in the Czech Republic.


Subject(s)
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Humans , Middle Aged , Remission Induction , Young Adult
17.
Leukemia ; 24(3): 521-35, 2010 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20033054

ABSTRACT

Assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) has acquired a prominent position in European treatment protocols for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), on the basis of its high prognostic value for predicting outcome and the possibilities for implementation of MRD diagnostics in treatment stratification. Therefore, there is an increasing need for standardization of methodologies and harmonization of terminology. For this purpose, a panel of representatives of all major European study groups on childhood and adult ALL and of international experts on PCR- and flow cytometry-based MRD assessment was built in the context of the Second International Symposium on MRD assessment in Kiel, Germany, 18-20 September 2008. The panel summarized the current state of MRD diagnostics in ALL and developed recommendations on the minimal technical requirements that should be fulfilled before implementation of MRD diagnostics into clinical trials. Finally, a common terminology for a standard description of MRD response and monitoring was established defining the terms 'complete MRD response', 'MRD persistence' and 'MRD reappearance'. The proposed MRD terminology may allow a refined and standardized assessment of response to treatment in adult and childhood ALL, and provides a sound basis for the comparison of MRD results between different treatment protocols.


Subject(s)
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis , Flow Cytometry , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics , Gene Rearrangement , Genes, Immunoglobulin , Humans , Neoplasm, Residual/diagnosis , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy
18.
Bone Marrow Transplant ; 45(6): 1095-101, 2010 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19855438

ABSTRACT

The role of autologous hematopoietic SCT (autoHSCT) in the treatment of high-risk (HR) adult ALL is controversial. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the results of autoHSCT according to the status of minimal residual disease (MRD) at transplantation, as a joint analysis of the European Study Group for Adult ALL (EWALL). Data on 123 recipients of autoHSCT, aged 31 (16-59) years, with B-lineage (n=77) or T-lineage (n=46) ALL were included. In a cohort of Ph-negative ALL, the probability of leukemia-free survival at 5 years was higher for patients with MRD <0.1% compared with those with MRD > or = 0.1% (57 vs 17%, P=0.0002). The difference was significant for T-lineage ALL (62 vs 8%, P=0.001), and a tendency was observed for B-lineage ALL (54 vs 26%, P=0.17). In a multivariate analysis, adjusted for other potential prognostic factors, high MRD level remained the only independent factor associated with increased risk of failure (risk ratio, 2.8; P=0.0005). We conclude that MRD determines the outcome of autoHSCT in HR adult ALL. Our results suggest the need to reevaluate the role of this treatment option in prospective trials.


Subject(s)
Neoplasm, Residual , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Cohort Studies , Disease-Free Survival , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Humans , Middle Aged , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Transplantation, Autologous , Treatment Failure , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
19.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19277471

ABSTRACT

During the past 25 years a highly effective infrastructure for clinical trials was developed in hematology. Following initial funding by the BMFT (Ministry for Research and Technology) a number of large multicenter study groups for leukemia and lymphoma were developed. Treatment results from these studies often represent the"gold standard". However, since no standard therapy is defined for these diseases, the study groups aim to treat all patients within treatment optimization trials (TOT) to combine research and care. They contribute considerably to quality control in therapy and diagnostics, e.g., by establishing central reference laboratories. The regulatory requirements for clinical trials were extended considerably after the activation of the 12th drug law and TOTs now have to fulfill requirements similar to registration trials in the pharmaceutical industry. Due to the considerable bureaucratic effort and increased costs, only few large multicenter trials could thereafter be initiated and a substantial disadvantage for independent academic research becomes clearly evident.


Subject(s)
Hematology/legislation & jurisprudence , Medical Oncology/legislation & jurisprudence , Multicenter Studies as Topic/legislation & jurisprudence , Benchmarking/ethics , Benchmarking/legislation & jurisprudence , Ethics, Research , Germany , Hematology/ethics , Hematology/standards , Humans , Leukemia/diagnosis , Leukemia/therapy , Lymphoma/diagnosis , Lymphoma/therapy , Medical Oncology/ethics , Medical Oncology/standards , Multicenter Studies as Topic/ethics , Multicenter Studies as Topic/standards , Multiple Myeloma/diagnosis , Multiple Myeloma/therapy , Quality Assurance, Health Care/ethics , Quality Assurance, Health Care/legislation & jurisprudence , Quality Assurance, Health Care/standards
20.
Leukemia ; 23(4): 649-55, 2009 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19158837

ABSTRACT

Molecular characterization of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has greatly improved the ability to categorize and prognostify patients with this disease. In this study, we show that the proto-oncogene CDX2 is aberrantly expressed in the majority of cases with B-lineage ALL and T-ALL. High expression of CDX2 correlated significantly with the ALL subtype pro-B ALL, cALL, Ph(+) ALL and early T-ALL. Furthermore, high expression of CDX2 was associated with inferior overall survival and showed up as a novel and strong risk factor for ALL in bivariate analysis. Functional analyses showed that overexpression of Cdx2 in murine bone marrow progenitors perturbed genes involved in lymphoid development and that depletion of CDX2 in the human ALL cell line Nalm6 inhibited colony formation. These data indicate that aberrant CDX2 expression occurs frequently and has prognostic impact in adult patients with ALL.


Subject(s)
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Genes, Homeobox , Homeodomain Proteins/genetics , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Bone Marrow Cells/pathology , CDX2 Transcription Factor , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Homeodomain Proteins/analysis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Proteins/analysis , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/classification , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/mortality , Prognosis , Proto-Oncogene Mas , Proto-Oncogenes , Survival Rate , Young Adult
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