0000000000114720

AUTHOR

Michael Heuser

Monitoring of FLT3 Phosphorylation and FLT3 Ligand Levels in Patients with FLT3-ITD Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Treated with Midostaurin within the AMLSG 16-10 Trial of the German-Austrian Study Group

Abstract Background: Target inhibition of FLT3 by therapy with the recently FDA- and EMA-approved multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) midostaurin can be monitored by plasma inhibitor activity (PIA) analysis by visualizing the level of target-dephosphorylation as previously described. When combining intensive chemotherapy with midostaurin, we have recently shown that the TKI achieves the lowest level of FLT3 phosphorylation (p-FLT3) at the end of the 1st induction cycle, indicating a deep target inhibition. However, sufficient inhibition could not be maintained during subsequent cycles by midostaurin in combination with chemotherapy, but it was reestablished during maintenance the…

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Monitoring of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) of DNMT3A Mutations (DNMT3Amut) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): A Study of the AML Study Group (AMLSG)

![Graphic][1] Background : The DNA methyltransferase 3A ( DNMT3A) is one of the most frequent mutated genes in AML with a hot spot mutation at codon R882 in 80% of the DNMT3A mut cases. In most of the studies DNMT3A mut predicts for poor overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Recently, DNMT3A mut have been associated with age-related clonal hematopoiesis, and they have been identified in early preleukemic stem cells. These findings suggest that DNMT3A mut represents an early event in leukemogenesis and may be part of the leukemia founder clone in most AMLs harboring a DNMT3A mut. We thought to address the question whether MRD monitoring in DNMT3A mut patients (pts) can be used for pr…

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Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) Monitoring in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with t(8;21)(q22;q22.1) RUNX1-RUNX1T1 Identifies Patients at High Risk of Relapse: Results of the AML Study Group (AMLSG)

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;21)(q22;q22.1) resulting in the RUNX1-RUNX1T1 gene fusion is considered favorable in the 2017 genetic risk stratification by the European LeukemiaNet (ELN). After intensive chemotherapy most patients (pts) achieve complete remission (CR), but relapse occurs in about 50% and is associated with poor prognosis. In this AML subgroup monitoring of measurable residual disease (MRD) has been shown to identify pts at higher risk of relapse. Aims: To assess the prognostic impact of MRD monitoring in bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) in a large cohort of 155 clinically well-annotated t(8;21)-AML pts enrolled in one of six AMLSG treatment tria…

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Impact Of The Pretreatment Characteristics As Well As Cyto- and Molecular-Genetic Profile On Outcome After Relapse In Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract Background Cyto- and molecular-genetic abnormalities evaluated at initial diagnosis are the most powerful prognostic and in part also predictive markers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with regard to achievement of complete remission (CR) and survival. Nonetheless, after relapse the prognostic impact of clinical characteristics and genetic abnormalities assessed at initial diagnosis with respect to achievement of subsequent CR and survival are less clear. Aims To evaluate the probability of CR achievement and survival in relapsed AML patients in correlation to clinical characteristics and genetic abnormalities assessed at initial diagnosis as well as treatment strategy. Methods The…

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Arsenic Trioxide Abrogate MN1 Mediated RA-Resistance in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Introduction: Described as a well know marker of worse prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), MN1 overexpression has been associated with inv(16) or EVI1 overexpression (Heuser et al., Blood 2007). The promoter region of the MN1 gene has Retinoic Acid Response Elements (RAREs), and higher levels of MN1 expression have been associated with decreased response to retinoic acid (RA) in vitro. Nevertheless, in the context of acute promyelocytic leukemia, little is known about MN1 gene expression and functionality in vivo. Aims: Here, we investigated the effects of in vitro treatment with RA plus arsenic trioxide (ATO) in APL cell lines and primary blasts overexpressing MN1. Additionally, we …

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Minimal Residual Disease Monitoring in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with Translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22): Results of the AML Study Group (AMLSG)

Abstract Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;21)(q22;q22) results in the formation of the RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion transcript which can be used to monitor minimal residual disease (MRD) by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Early identification of patients (pts) with a high risk of relapse will allow pre-emptive therapy including allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). Recent studies in AML with NPM1 mutation or the CBFB-MYH11 gene fusion revealed that MRD persistence is significantly associated with a high risk of relapse. However, the prognostic impact of MRD assessment in RUNX1-RUNX1T1-positive AML is not well established. A…

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Assessment of Treatment Effects By Measurable Residual Disease Monitoring in NPM1-Mutated AML Patients Randomized for Gemtuzumab-Ozogamicin (GO) within the AMLSG 09-09 Trial of the German-Austrian AML Study Group (AMLSG)

Abstract Background: Measurable residual disease (MRD), as determined by quantitation of Nucleophosmin 1-mutated (NPM1mut) transcript levels (TL), provides significant prognostic information independent of other risk factors in patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This is also addressed by the 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) risk stratification system, which recommends taking into account results from MRD monitoring when selecting the appropriate post-remission therapy. Furthermore, MRD monitoring provides a powerful tool to evaluate treatment effects within clinical trials investigating novel therapies. Aims: To determine the impact of the anti-CD33 immunotoxin Gemtuzumab-Ozog…

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Midostaurin in Combination with Intensive Induction and As Single Agent Maintenance Therapy after Consolidation Therapy with Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation or High-Dose Cytarabine (NCT01477606)

Abstract Background: Internal tandem duplications (ITD) in the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 occur in roughly 25% of younger adult patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), implicating FLT3 as a potential target for kinase inhibitor therapy. The multi-targeted kinase inhibitor midostaurin shows potent activity against FLT3 as a single agent but also in combination with intensive chemotherapy. Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of midostaurin in combination with intensive induction therapy and as single agent maintenance therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) or high-dose cytarabine (HIDAC). Methods: The study includes adult pts (age 1…

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Real-World Experience of CPX-351 As First-Line Treatment in 188 Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract Background In a recent phase-III trial CPX-351 (Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, CA), a liposomal encapsulation of cytarabine and daunorubicin, has shown higher remission rates and longer overall survival (OS) in patients aged 60 to 75 years with AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) or therapy-related AML (t-AML) in comparison to conventional 7+3 regimen. Based on this CPX-351 has been approved in the USA 2017 and in Europe 2018 for adult patients with newly-diagnosed AML-MRC or t-AML. Still, several issues such as age (<60 years), measurable residual disease (MRD), molecular subgroups and outcome after allo-HCT were not addressed in the phase-III trial. Aiming …

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Clinical Presentation of Patients with Adult Late-Onset Telomere Biology Disorders - Results from the Aachen Telomeropathy Registry

Abstract Introduction: Telomere biology disorders (TBD) are caused by mutations affecting proper telomere maintenance resulting in premature telomere shortening. Telomere length (TL) assessment is currently being used for screening and diagnosis of TBD of which Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is the most prominent TBD subtype typically found in children and adolescents. In adults, TBDs are characterized by a broad spectrum of more "cryptic" diverging mono- or oligosymptomatic clinical manifestations such as bone marrow failure (BMF), hepatopathy or interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, despite growing general clinical awareness and exertion of improved TL screening strategies, insufficient…

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Clinical Relevance of Minimal Residual Disease Monitoring in NPM1 Mutated AML: A Study of the AML Study Group (AMLSG)

Abstract Background: Nucleophosmin (NPM1mut) mutations represent one of the most common gene mutations in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and can be used for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD). In a former study, we could define clinical relevant check-points and a cut-off value to identify patients (pts) at high risk of relapse. Aims: To confirm our previous results on the clinical relevance of NPM1mut transcript levels (TL) in an extended cohort of younger AML pts (18 to 60 years) harbouring NPM1mut type A, B, C, D, JT, 4, QM, NM or KM, and to assess the impact of concurrent FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITD) and DNMT3A (DNMT3Amut) mutations on NPM1mut TL kinetics. Methods: All …

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Impact of Donor Type on Outcome after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients: Analysis of the German-Austrian Acute Myeloid Leukemia Study Group (AMLSG)

Abstract Background:Despite recent advances in identifying novel molecular targets in AML patients, intensive chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) still remains a cornerstone of AML therapy. However, outcome of HSCT depends on the availability of a donor and the donor type. Prior studies comparing HSCT from HLA-matched related donors (MRD) with matched unrelated donors (MUD), demonstrated conflicting results with regards to outcome. These conflicting results might be attributed to the genetic heterogeneity of AML. Aims:To analyze outcome with respect to donor type of 952 AML patients who received HSCT in first complete remission (CR) and were tr…

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Role of Donor Clonal Hematopoiesis in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation

Purpose Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) occurs in the blood of approximately 20% of older persons. CHIP is linked to an increased risk of hematologic malignancies and of all-cause mortality; thus, the eligibility of stem-cell donors with CHIP is questionable. We comprehensively investigated how donor CHIP affects outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods We collected blood samples from 500 healthy, related HSCT donors (age ≥ 55 years) at the time of stem-cell donation for targeted sequencing with a 66-gene panel. The effect of donor CHIP was assessed on recipient outcomes, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), cumulative incid…

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Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-Based Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) Monitoring in Acute Myeloid Leukemia with FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplication (FLT3-ITD+ AML) Treated with Additional Midostaurin

Background: FLT3-ITD occurs in ~25% of adult AML patients (pts) and is associated with poor prognosis. MRD monitoring is of high prognostic relevance, but restricted to certain AML subtypes. FLT3-ITD represents an attractive target for MRD monitoring in particular in pts treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. FLT3-ITD MRD monitoring is hampered by the broad heterogeneity of ITD length and insertion site (IS). NGS may overcome these limitations offering the opportunity for MRD monitoring in FLT3-ITD+ AML. Aims: To validate our recently established NGS-based FLT3-ITD MRD assay in a defined cohort of FLT3-ITD+ AML pts treated within the AMLSG16-10 trial (NCT01477606) combining intensive che…

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Impact of Age and Midostaurin-Dose on Response and Outcome in Acute Myeloid Leukemia with FLT3-ITD: Interim-Analyses of the AMLSG 16-10 Trial

Abstract Background: Internal tandem duplications (ITD) in the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 occur in roughly 25% of younger adult patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The multi-targeted kinase inhibitor midostaurin combined with intensive chemotherapy has shown activity against AML with FLT3 mutations. However, toxicity and potential drug-drug interactions with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as posaconazole may necessitate dose reduction. Aims: To evaluate the impact of age and midostaurin dose-adaptation after intensive induction chemotherapy on response and outcome in AML with FLT3-ITD within the AMLSG 16-10 trial (NCT01477606). Methods: The study included adult pts (age 18-7…

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Ratify (Alliance 10603): Prognostic Impact of FLT3 tyrosine Kinase Domain (TKD) and NPM1 Mutation Status in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Treated with Midostaurin or Placebo Plus Standard Chemotherapy

Abstract Introduction: Mutations localized in the tyrosine kinase domain activation loop of FLT3 (FLT3-TKD), representing point mutations in codon D835/I836 and rarely deletions of codon I836, induce constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase similarly to FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations. However, the prognostic role of FLT3-TKD in AML, particularly in the presence of NPM1 mutations, is not well established. The phase 3 RATIFY trial [NCT00651261; Stone et al. N Engl J Med. 2017] showed that in combination with standard chemotherapy, midostaurin (PKC412) improved survival outcomes across all 3 FLT3 stratification subgroups (ITD high a…

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Midostaurin Plus Intensive Chemotherapy for Younger and Older Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplications

Abstract BACKGROUND: Midostaurin is a first-generation, type I multi-targeted kinase inhibitor with inhibitory activity against FLT3-ITD and -TKD mutations. Midostaurin is approved by FDA and EMA in combination with intensive induction and consolidation chemotherapy for adult patients with AML exhibiting an activating FLT3 mutation; the EMA label also includes single-agent maintenance therapy following consolidation chemotherapy. We conducted a phase-II trial (AMLSG 16-10) to evaluate midostaurin with induction chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation (HCT) and a one-year midostaurin maintenance therapy in younger and older patients with acute myeloid leukemia …

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Clinical Impact of GATA2 Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Harboring CEBPA Mutations: A Study of the AML Study Group (AMLSG)

Abstract Background Based on their association with certain biological and clinical features as well as their prognostic significance, mutations in the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (CEBPA) gene have been included as a provisional entity into the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of myeloid neoplasms. CEBPA mutations (CEBPAmut) are mainly found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with normal cytogenetics, and approximately 60% of the mutated patients (pts) carry biallelic mutations. Several studies showed that in particular pts with double mutant CEBPA (CEBPAdm) have a favorable outcome compared to all others. Recently, mutations in the transcription factor GATA2 were i…

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Impact of pretreatment characteristics and salvage strategy on outcome in patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia

Impact of pretreatment characteristics and salvage strategy on outcome in patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia

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Impact of NPM1/FLT3-ITD genotypes defined by the 2017 European LeukemiaNet in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Contains fulltext : 218279.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITDs) have poor outcomes, in particular AML with a high (>/=0.5) mutant/wild-type allelic ratio (AR). The 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations defined 4 distinct FLT3-ITD genotypes based on the ITD AR and the NPM1 mutational status. In this retrospective exploratory study, we investigated the prognostic and predictive impact of the NPM1/FLT3-ITD genotypes categorized according to the 2017 ELN risk groups in patients randomized within the RATIFY trial, which evaluated the addition of midostaurin to standard chemotherapy. The 4 …

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Real Life Experience with ATRA-Arsenic Trioxide Based Regimen in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia - Updated Results of the Prospective German Intergroup Napoleon Registry

Abstract Background: Standard therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia has long relied on the combination of All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy. The introduction of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in APL treatment has allowed achievement of similarly high remission and survival rates coupled with significantly reduced myelosuppression. Recent results of the APL0406 trial by the GIMEMA-AMLSG-SAL study groups showed that the combination of ATRA and arsenic trioxide (ATO) is superior to standard ATRA and chemotherapy (CHT) in front-line therapy of low/intermediate risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The implications of these results for the clinical practice of APL patients in Germany …

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Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Monitoring in NPM1 Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Impact of Concurrent FLT3-ITD and DNMT3A Mutations on MRD Kinetics and Clinical Outcome

Abstract Introduction In a recent update on MRD monitoring in 407 NPM1 mutated (NPM1mut) AML patients (pts) we could confirm the results from our previous study showing that achievement of RQ-PCR negativity after double induction (DI), after completion of therapy (CT) as well as during the follow-up period (FUP) is significantly associated with a lower cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and superior overall survival (OS) [Döhner K, Annals of Hematol; 2013;Suppl.1,92:S39]. In addition, in pts with concurrent FLT3-ITD (FLT3-ITDmut) or DNMT3A (DNMT3Amut) mutations, we also showed that the median NPM1mut transcript levels after each treatment cycle were significantly higher. Aim To evaluate …

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Midostaurin in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and FLT3-TKD mutations: a subanalysis from the RATIFY trial

Abstract The results from the RATIFY trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00651261; CALGB 10603) showed that midostaurin combined with standard chemotherapy significantly improved outcomes in patients with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)–mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), compared with placebo. In this post hoc subgroup analysis from the trial, we evaluated the impact of midostaurin in 163 patients with FLT3-tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations. At a median follow-up of 60.7 months (95% CI, 55.0-70.8), the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was significantly higher in patients treated with midostaurin than in those treated with placebo (45.2% vs 30.1%; P = .044). A trend toward improved …

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Molecular Characterization of Relapsed Core-Binding Factor (CBF) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Abstract Background: CBF-AML is defined by recurrent genetic abnormalities which encompass t(8;21)(q22;q22), inv(16)(p13.1q22) or less frequently t(16;16)(p13.1;q22). Most frequent secondary chromosome aberrations in t(8;21) AML are del(9q) or loss of a sex chromosome, and in inv(16)/t(16;16) AML trisomy 22 or trisomy 8. At the molecular level mutations involving KIT, FLT3, or NRAS were identified as recurrent lesions in CBF-AML. However, the underlying genetic alterations which might trigger relapse in CBF-AML are not well delineated. Thus, the aim of our study was to characterize the clonal architecture of relapsed CBF-AML. Methods: We performed mutational profiling (KIT, FLT3-ITD, FLT3-T…

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Treatment Results In Acute Myeloid Leukemia Over a Time Period Of 20 Years: Analysis Of The German-Austrian Acute Myeloid Leukemia Study Group (AMLSG)

Abstract Background Overall survival (OS) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with intensive chemotherapy has improved over the last 20 year especially in younger adults (18-60 years) but still remains poor in older patients (>60 years) (Döhner et al. Blood 2010). The German-Austrian AMLSG performed controlled prospective treatment trials since 1993 starting with a risk-adapted approach (phase I, 1993-1997), followed by randomized and risk-adapted treatment strategies based on cytogenetic risk groups (phase II, 1997-2002); since 2003 addition of differentiating agents and HiDAC inhibitors to intensive induction therapy was evaluated (phase III, 2003-2007). Of note, until 2007 younger…

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Pharmacodynamic Monitoring of the Efficacy of a Targeted Therapy with Midostaurin By Plasma Inhibitor Activity (PIA) Analysis in FLT3 -ITD Positive AML Patients within the AMLSG 16-10 Trial: A Study of the AML Study Group (AMLSG)

Abstract Background: Activating mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases like FLT3 (FLT3mut) lead to an aberrant signal transduction thereby causing an increased proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) or mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD) occur in about 25% of younger adult patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with FLT3 -ITD being associated with an unfavourable outcome. FLT3mut present an excellent target for small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). The multi-targeted kinase inhibitor midostaurin (PKC412) is currently under investigation as a FLT3-inhibitor in combination with intensive chemotherapy. Monitoring of th…

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All-Trans Retinoic Acid Improves Outcome in Younger Adult Patients with Nucleophosmin-1 Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia – Results of the AMLSG 07-04 Randomized Treatment Trial

Abstract Abstract 80 Background: Mutations in the nucleophosmin-1 gene (NPM1) are the most common genetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and define a provisional AML entity in the current WHO classification. In a retrospective biomarker study within a randomized trial of older patients with AML, we demonstrated that patients with mutated NPM1 and absence of a FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) benefit from all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) as adjunct to conventional chemotherapy (Schlenk et al. Haematologica 2009;94:54–69). Aims: To evaluate the impact of ATRA in combination with conventional chemotherapy on outcome, and to assess the NPM1 mutational status as predictive mar…

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Clinical impact of GATA2 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia patients harboring CEBPA mutations: a study of the AML study group.

Clinical impact of GATA2 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia patients harboring CEBPA mutations: a study of the AML study group

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