Insight into del17p low-frequency subclones in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): data from the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG)/CLL Australian Research Consortium (CLLARC) CLL5 trial.

The clinical significance of low-frequency deletions of 17p13 [tumour protein p53 (TP53)] in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is currently unclear. Low-frequency del17p clones (<25%) were identified in 15/95 patients in the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG)/CLL Australian Research Consortium (CLLARC) CLL5 trial. Patients with low del17p, without tumour protein p53 (TP53) mutation, had significantly longer progression-free survival and overall survival durations than patients with high del17p clones. In 11/15 cases with low-frequency del17p, subclones solely with del17p or del13q were also noted. These data suggest that low-frequency del17p does not necessarily confer a poor outcome in CLL and challenges the notion of del13q as a founding event in CLL.

Monoclonal gammopathy and serum immunoglobulin levels as prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The relationship between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and qualitative/quantitative gammaglobulin abnormalities is well established. Nevertheless, in order to better understand this kind of connection, we examined 1505 patients with CLL and divided them into four subgroups on the basis of immunoglobulin (Ig) aberrations at diagnosis. A total of 73 (4·8%), 149 (10%), 200 (13·2%) and 1083 (72%) patients were identified with IgM monoclonal gammopathy (IgM/CLL), IgG monoclonal gammopathy (IgG/CLL), hypogammaglobulinaemia (hypo-γ) and normal Ig levels (γ-normal) respectively. IgM paraprotein was significantly associated with a more advanced Binet/Rai stage and del(17p)/TP53 mutation, while IgG abnormalities correlated with a higher occurrence of trisomy 12. Patients with any type of Ig abnormality had shorter treatment-free survival (TFS) but no significant impact affecting overall survival (OS) compared to those with normal Ig levels.

Comparison of real-world treatment patterns in chronic lymphocytic leukemia management before and after availability of ibrutinib in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

We performed a retrospective study comparing treatment patterns and overall survival (OS) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with the advent of ibrutinib to provide current real-world data. METHODS: Using a provincial population-based database, we analyzed CLL patients who received upfront treatment in British Columbia before ibrutinib availability (1984-2014), during ibrutinib access for: relapse only (2014-2015) and for upfront treatment of patients (with 17p deletion or unfit for chemotherapy) (2015-2016). Analysis included up to third-line treatment. RESULTS: Of 1729 patients meeting inclusion criteria (median age, 66 years; 1466, period 1; 140, period 2; 123, period 3), FR was the most common first-line therapy (35.8 %, 54.3 % and 40.7 %, periods 1-3, respectively) and 18.7 % received ibrutinib upfront in period 3. The most common therapies in relapse were chemoimmunotherapy (36.1 % and 55.6 %, periods 1 and 2, second-line; 29.2 %, period 1, third-line) and ibrutinib (69.8 %, period 3, second-line; 46.4 % and 70.3 %, periods 2 and 3, third-line). OS improved for patients treated in periods 2-3 over period 1 (median OS not reached vs. 11.9 years, p < 0.001; no difference in OS for periods 2-3, p = 0.385). CONCLUSION: Ibrutinib has replaced chemoimmunotherapy as the preferred therapy in relapse. Overall survival has improved over time with access to ibrutinib.

TP53 mutations and relevance of expression of TP53 pathway genes in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia.

Limited data are available on the incidence and impact of TP53 alterations and TP53 pathway deregulation in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). We analysed TP53 alterations in bone marrow samples of 229 patients with de novo paediatric AML, and detected heterozygous missense exon mutations in two patients (1%) and 17p deletions of the TP53 gene in four patients (2%). These patients more frequently had complex karyotype (50% vs. 4%, P = 0·002) or adverse cytogenetic abnormalities, including complex karyotype (67% vs. 17%, P = 0·013), compared to TP53 wild-type. Differential expression of TP53 pathway genes was associated with poor survival, indicating a role for TP53 regulators and effector genes.

Development of a prognostic model for overall survival in multiple myeloma using the Connect® MM Patient Registry.

Median overall survival (OS) has improved for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), but prognosis varies depending on baseline patient characteristics. Current models use data from selected clinical trial populations, which prevent application to patients in an unselected community setting that reflects routine clinical practice. Using data from the Connect® MM Registry, a large, US, multicentre, prospective observational cohort study (Cohort 1: 2009-2011; Cohort 2: 2012-2016) of 3011 patients with NDMM, we identified prognostic variables for OS via the multivariable analysis of baseline patient characteristics in Cohort 1 (n = 1493) and developed a tool to examine individual outcomes. Factors associated with OS (n = 1450 treated patients; P < 0·05) were age, del(17p), triplet therapy use, EQ-5D mobility, International Staging System stage, solitary plasmacytoma, history of diabetes, platelet count, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and serum creatinine, which were used to create survival matrices for 3- and 5-year OS. The model was internally and externally validated using Connect MM Cohort 2 (Harrell's concordance index, 0·698), MM-015 (0·649), and the phase 3 FIRST (0·647) clinical trials. This novel prognostic tool may help inform outcomes for NDMM in the era of triplet therapy use with novel agents.

Evaluation of 230 patients with relapsed/refractory deletion 17p chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated with ibrutinib from 3 clinical trials.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) with deletion 17p [del(17p)] have poor outcomes with chemoimmunotherapy. Ibrutinib is indicated for the treatment of CLL/SLL, including del(17p) CLL/SLL, and allows for treatment without chemotherapy. This integrated analysis was performed to evaluate outcomes in 230 patients with relapsed/refractory del(17p) CLL/SLL from three ibrutinib studies. With a median of 2 prior therapies (range, 1-12), 18% and 79% of evaluable patients had del(11q) or unmutated IGHV, respectively. With a median follow-up of 28 months, overall response rate was 85% and estimated 30-month progression-free and overall survival rates were 57% [95% confidence interval (CI) 50-64] and 69% (95% CI 61-75), respectively. Patients with normal lactate dehydrogenase or no bulky disease had the most favourable survival outcomes. Sustained haematological improvements in haemoglobin, platelet count and absolute neutrophil count occurred in 61%, 67% and 70% of patients with baseline cytopenias, respectively. New onset severe cytopenias and infections decreased in frequency over time. Progression-free and overall survival with ibrutinib surpass those of other therapies for patients with del(17p) CLL/SLL. These results provide further evidence of the robust clinical activity of ibrutinib in difficult-to-treat CLL/SLL populations.

Sequencing of chronic lymphocytic leukemia therapies.

It is an unprecedented time for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with the recent approval of several targeted agents for use in frontline, relapsed, refractory, and high-risk disease. Traditionally, frontline management of CLL has been a combination of chemotherapy (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, bendamustine, or chlorambucil) with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab, ofatumumab, obinutuzumab). The current landscape is rapidly evolving with the advent of therapies that demonstrate selective inhibition of important pathways necessary for CLL proliferation and survival. Despite considerable progress, much is still unknown and optimal treatment selection and sequence is still debatable. None of the new agents have been compared against each other and the impact of adding an additional agent to monotherapy is not yet fully elucidated. In routine clinical practice, the choice of therapy is based on nonrandomized comparisons, presence of comorbidities, and toxicity considerations. These recently approved drugs (ibrutinib, idelalisib, and venetoclax) are reporting excellent outcomes, including patients with high-risk disease such as 17p deletion (17p-) or TP53 mutations (TP53mut). Ibrutinib and venetoclax have been approved for use in 17p- patients (frontline and relapsed, respectively). Ibrutinib is currently moving into the frontline space given recent regulatory approvals. This review will summarize and interpret the limited therapeutic sequencing data available, highlighting the need for additional studies to optimize combination strategies and treatments after failure or discontinuation of these novel agents.

Baseline characteristics, chromosomal alterations, and treatment affecting prognosis of deletion 17p in newly diagnosed myeloma.

Deletion 17p13, del(17p), is associated with poor outcome in myeloma but some patients show long-term survival. With the current study we intended to identify factors impacting outcome of such high risk patients. We analyzed 110 newly diagnosed, symptomatic patients with del(17p) detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in CD138-purified myeloma cells to identify prognostic factors for survival. Age >65 years, ISS III, and elevated LDH negatively impacted survival. Patients with subclonal (10-60% of plasma cells) del(17p) had longer progression-free survival (PFS) than patients with del(17p) in >60% of plasma cells (26 vs. 19 months, P = 0.03). Additional gain of 1q21 was associated with shorter PFS (17 vs. 25 months, P = 0.01). Hyperdiploidy did not ameliorate impact of del(17p), but gain 19q13 predicted longer PFS (30 vs. 18 months, P = 0.01) and overall survival (50 vs. 29 months, P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis in transplant eligible patients (≤65 years) revealed better survival for patients treated with upfront autologous transplantation (hazard ratio, [95% confidence interval]: 0.15 [0.04, 0.58], P = 0.006). Application of maintenance therapy was associated with better survival in transplant-eligible patients (0.30 [0.09, 0.99], P = 0.05). We demonstrate heterogeneous outcome of patients with del(17p) according to baseline characteristics and treatment. 19q13 should be included in routine FISH panel, since gains were associated with better survival. Am. J. Hematol. 91:E473-E477, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.