Molecular predictors of response and survival in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia following venetoclax plus hypomethylating agent therapy

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Clinical and molecular correlates of somatic and germline <i>DDX41</i> variants in patients and families with myeloid neoplasms

The diagnosis of germline predisposition to myeloid neoplasms (MN) secondary to DDX41 variants is currently hindered by the long latency period, variable family histories and the frequent occurrence of DDX41 variants of uncertain significance (VUS). We reviewed 4,524 consecutive patients who underwent targeted sequencing for suspected or known MN and analyzed the clinical impact and relevance of DDX41VUS in comparison to DDX41path variants. Among 107 patients (44 [0.9%] DDX41path and 63 DDX41VUS [1.4%; 11 patients with both DDX41path and DDX41VUS]), we identified 17 unique DDX41path and 45 DDX41VUS variants: 24 (23%) and 77 (72%) patients had proven and presumed germline DDX41 variants, respectively. The median age was similar between DDX41path and DDX41VUS (66 vs. 62 years; P=0.41). The median variant allele frequency (VAF) (47% vs. 48%; P=0.62), frequency of somatic myeloid co-mutations (34% vs 25%; P= 0.28), cytogenetic abnormalities (16% vs. 12%; P=>0.99) and family history of hematological malignancies (20% vs. 33%; P=0.59) were comparable between the two groups. Time to treatment in months (1.53 vs. 0.3; P=0.16) and proportion of patients progressing to acute myeloid leukemia (14% vs. 11%; P=0.68), were similar. The median overall survival in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myloid leukemia was 63.4 and 55.7 months in the context of DDX41path and DDX41VUS, respectively (P=0.93). Comparable molecular profiles and clinical outcomes among DDX41path and DDX41VUS patients highlights the need for a comprehensive DDX41 variant interrogation/classification system, to improve surveillance and management strategies in patients and families with germline DDX41 predisposition syndromes

Cladribine plus cytarabine plus venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia relapsed or refractory to venetoclax plus hypomethylating agent

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Genetic landscape and clinical outcomes of patients with <i>BCOR</i> 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

Comparative Analysis of Azacitidine and Decitabine in Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematological diseases which present with cytopenias. Hematopoietic cell transplantation is usually limited to fit patients with higher risk MDS and donor availability. Hypomethylating agents (azacitidine and decitabine) have been the mainstay option for the management of MDS with different clinical efficacy in low versus high risk MDS trials. No trials have compared the two agents. Aim: To conduct a systematic review and network analysis comparing the efficacy of azacitidine to decitabine. Methods: The protocol of the systematic review was developed a priori. A comprehensive search of several databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus) was conducted from each database's earliest inception through November 20th, 2014 without language restrictions. Trials enrolling adults diagnosed with MDS who received hypomethylating agents (azacitidine or decitabine) therapy were included. Studies were screened by two independent reviewers and differences were resolved by consensus. The Cochrane Risk of bias tool was used to appraise the trials. Random effects model was used to pool relative risks (RR) of outcomes (overall survival, overall response rate, hematologic improvement and grade 3 or 4 toxicity). Adjusted indirect comparisons were used to estimate RR for indirect comparisons (Glenny AM, et al. Health Technol Assess. 2005). All statistical analyses were conducted using STATA, version 13 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX). Results: Only four trials met the eligibility criteria (Figure 1). Two trials compared Azacitidine (75mg/m²/day SC x 7 days) to the best suppurative care (BSC) and included 549 patients (278 azacitidine and 271 BSC, age average: 69; range: 31-92), and the other 2 compared decitabine (15 mg/m² IV q 8 hours x9) to BSC and included 403 patients (208 Decitabine and 195 BSC, age average: 69.7; range: 60-90) (Table 1). The proportion of patients with intermediate-2 and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (based on International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)) in trials comparing decitabine to BSC was 82.21% and 83.08%; respectively, and in trials comparing azacitidine to BSC was 62.59% and 61.26%; respectively. The risk of bias was moderate overall. Compared to BSC, azacitidine was significantly associated with lower risk of death (RR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.74-0.94, p=0.002) whereas the effect of decitabine did not reach statistical significance (RR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.77-1.001, p=0.053). Both drugs were superior to BSC in terms of partial and complete response. Head to head comparisons were not statistically significant (except for the outcome of complete response where low certainty evidence suggested that azacitidine treated patients were less likely to have complete response compared to decitabine (RR=0.11, 95% CI= 0.01, 0.86, p=0.04). (Table 2). Conclusion: Azacitidine and decitabine are both superior to BSC. The available indirect evidence comparing the two agents warrants low certainty and cannot reliably confirm superiority of either agent. Head-to-head trials are needed. In the meantime, the choice of agent should be driven by patients' preferences, drug availability and cost. Table 2. Results of meta-analysis Outcome Azacitidine VS. Decitabine Azacitidine VS. BSC Decitabine VS. BSC RR LCI HCI P value RR LCI HCI P value RR LCI HCI P value Death 0.95 0.79 1.13 0.54 0.83 0.74 0.94 0.002 0.88 0.77 1.001 0.05 Complete response 0.11 0.01 0.86 0.04* 2.56 1.44 4.58 0.001 23.46 3.22 170.84 0.002 Partial response 0.35 0.04 3.03 0.34 4.91 2.27 10.63 &lt;0.0001 14.02 1.87 105.08 0.01 Major erythroid improvement 0.47 0.03 8.37 0.60 6.37 3.93 10.33 &lt;0.0001 13.67 0.79 235.57 0.07 Major platelet improvement 1.51 0.30 7.56 0.62 4.80 2.98 7.70 &lt;0.0001 3.19 0.68 14.89 0.14 Major neutrophil improvement 2.89 0.56 14.82 0.20 2.63 1.68 4.12 &lt;0.0001 0.91 0.19 4.38 0.907 Hematologic improvement 0.25 0.06 1.09 0.07 2.18 1.67 2.85 &lt;0.0001 8.62 2.05 36.32 0.003 Anemia 1.18 0.53 2.63 0.69 0.89 0.75 1.06 0.198 0.76 0.35 1.66 0.49 Neutropenia 0.99 0.75 1.30 0.92 1.87 1.63 2.14 &lt;0.0001 1.90 1.49 2.42 &lt;0.0001 Thrombocytopenia 0.87 0.64 1.18 0.37 1.63 1.43 1.86 &lt;0.0001 1.87 1.43 2.45 &lt;0.0001 Infection 1.13 0.52 2.43 0.76 1.25 0.60 2.60 0.55 1.11 0.87 1.42 0.41 *These results warrant low certainty due to imprecision (very small number of events) and are driven by 14 patients achieving complete response in BSC arm in one trial. Disclosures Al-Kali: Celgene: Research Funding. </jats:sec