New Classifications for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Dr. Ellen Ritchie recently participated in an OncLive discussion on the latest modifications to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). WHO classification is the standard diagnostic system utilized by medical institutions worldwide, including here at Weill Cornell Medicine. Recent advances in our understanding of the biological course of MDS have warranted revision to its WHO classification, which was last updated in 2008. In particular, mutational and cytogenetic analyses have to led to refinement of diagnostic terms for MDS. These modifications include a distinction between single versus multilineage dysplasia and elimination of the term “cytopenia.”

The OncLive discussion centered on implications of the new classification on the prognosis and treatment of MDS. While the WHO classification is just one of many factors to consider when evaluating the prognosis of the disorder, the panelists agree that the new modifications will make it easier to determine an appropriate course of treatment for their patients. To learn more, click here or watch the video below.


Weill Cornell Leukemia Program Abstracts @ ASH 2016

December is an exciting month here at the Leukemia Program, as each year, our doctors and researchers are invited to attend and present their work at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). This important meeting provides the opportunity to network with thousands of hematology specialists from all over the world.

This year, the 58th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition is being held December 3-6 in San Diego, California. We are very proud to play an integral role in research that is changing the way leukemia is diagnosed, tracked and treated. The below abstracts are being presented in oral or poster sessions by the Leukemia Program’s physicians, researchers, and collaborators.

AML

#98. Results of a Clinical Study of Pevonedistat (Pev), a First-in-Class NEDD8-Activating Enzyme (NAE) Inhibitor, Combined with Azacitidine (Aza) in Older Patients (Pts) with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

#226. A Randomized Phase II Study of Low-Dose Decitabine Versus Azacitidine in Patients with Low- or Intermediate-1-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Report on Behalf of the MDS Clinical Research Consortium

#433. Cooperative Epigenetic Remodeling By TET2 Loss and NRAS Mutation Drives Myeloid Transformation and MEK Inhibitor Sensitivity

#438. BCL6 Is Critical to Overcome Oncogene-Induced Senescence in RAS-Mediated B Cell Transformation

#582. Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Resist Chemotherapy through a Reversible Senescence-like State Maintaining Repopulation Potential

#599. Changes of the Mutational Landscape in Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

#765. Allogeneic Tcrα/β Deficient CAR T-Cells Targeting CD123 Prolong Overall Survival of AML Patient-Derived Xenografts

#902. Analysis of Efficacy By Age for Patients Aged 60–75 with Untreated Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Treated with CPX-351 Liposome Injection Versus Conventional Cytarabine and Daunorubicin in a Phase III Trial Clinically Relevant Abstract

#903. Durable Overall Survival Benefit in Patients ≥ 60 Years with Relapsed or Refractory AML Treated with Vosaroxin/Cytarabine Vs Placebo/Cytarabine: Updated Results from the Valor Trial

#904. Long Term Survival and Clinical Complete Responses of Various Prognostic Subgroups in 103 Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (r/r AML) Patients Treated with Guadecitabine (SGI-110) in Phase 2 Studies

#906. Survival Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Older High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Initially Treated with CPX-351 Liposome Injection Versus Standard Cytarabine and Daunorubicin: Subgroup Analysis of a Large Phase III Trial

#1048. Cooperative Gene Repression By DNA Methylation and LSD1-Mediated Enhancer Inactivation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

#1063. The Use of Hypomethylating Agents (HMAs) in Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (RR-AML): Clinical Outcomes and Their Predictors in a Large International Patient Cohort

#1069. Final Results of the Chrysalis Trial: A First-in-Human Phase 1/2 Dose-Escalation, Dose-Expansion Study of Gilteritinib (ASP2215) in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

#1070. Determination of IDH1 Mutational Burden and Clearance Via Next-Generation Sequencing in Patients with IDH1 Mutation-Positive Hematologic Malignancies Receiving AG-120, a First-in-Class Inhibitor of Mutant IDH1

#1077. CD97 Is a Critical Regulator of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cell Function

#1553. PI3 Kinase p110 Delta Is Required for Leukemic Cell Survival and Self-Renewal in t(8;21) Acute Myeloid Leukemia

#1680. Genetic Determinants of Response to Guadecitabine (SGI-110) in AML

#1693. Selection and Characterization of Antibody Clones Are Critical for Accurate Flow Cytometry-Based Monitoring of CD123 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

#2011. Comprehensive Analysis of Safety: Rigosertib in 557 Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia

#2816. Thioguanine Combined with Decitabine Can Overcome Resistance to Hypomethylating Agents: Final Results of a Phase I Trial of a Pharmacodynamically-Conceived Thioguanine/Decitabine Combination in Patients with Advanced Myeloid Malignancies

#2888. Minimal Residual Disease Assessment of Common and Rare NPM1 Mutations Using a Single Massively Multiplex Digital PCR Assay

#3548. Current Diagnosis Patterns for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Clinical Practice Compared with World Health Organization (WHO) 2008 Recommendations: Outcomes from the CONNECT® Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and AML Disease Registry

#4039. Pre-Clinical Studies of Anti-CD123 CAR-T Cells for the Treatment of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN)

ALL

#279. The Pro-Tumorigenic Vascular Niche Sustains the T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Phenotype and Fosters Resistance to Therapy

#907. Oncogenic Feedback Activation Between BCL6 and MLL Promotes Malignant Transformation in MLL-Rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

#1629. A Pediatric-Inspired Regimen Containing Multiple Doses of Intravenous Pegylated Asparaginase Appears Safe and Effective in Newly Diagnosed Adult Patients with Ph-Negative Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adults up to Age 60: Results of a Multi-Center Phase II Clinical Trial

#4088. CD25 Enables Oncogenic BCR Signaling and Represents a Therapeutic Target in Refractory B Cell Malignancies

CML

#3090. ENESTgoal Treatment-Free Remission Study: Updated Preliminary Results and Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase Who Switched from Imatinib to Nilotinib

MPN

#479. Interim Analysis of the Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Consortium (MPD-RC) 112 Global Phase III Trial of Front Line Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2a Vs. Hydroxyurea in High Risk Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocythemia

#4271. Impact on MPN Symptoms and Quality of Life of Front Line Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2a Vs. Hydroxyurea in High Risk Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocythemia: Interim Analysis Results of Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Consortium (MPD-RC) 112 Global Phase III Trial

MDS

#112. Frequency and Prognostic Significance of Cytogenetic Abnormalities in 1269 Patients with Therapy-Related Myelodysplastic Syndrome – a Study of the International Working Group (IWG-PM) for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

#297. Is Serial Monitoring of Myeloid Mutations Clinically Relevant in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): A Report on Behalf of the MDS Clinical Research Consortium (CRC)

#343. Enasidenib (AG-221), a Potent Oral Inhibitor of Mutant Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) Enzyme, Induces Hematologic Responses in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes

#964. Runx1 Deficiency and MDS-Associated U2af1 Mutation Cooperate for Leukemia Development in a New Mouse Model

#2011. Comprehensive Analysis of Safety: Rigosertib in 557 Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

#4321. Ring Sideroblasts and SF3B1 Mutations in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): Are They Two Faces of the Same Coin? a Study on Behalf of the MDS Clinical Research Consortium (MDS CRC)

#4322. Optimal Treatment Order of Lenalidomide and Hypomethylating Agents for Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Report on Behalf of the MDS Clinical Research Consortium

#4332. Importance of Complete Remission on Predicting Overall Survival in Patients with Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes


Treatment of minimal residual disease in AML patients

 

Gail Roboz, MD from Weill Cornell Medicine discusses minimal residual disease (MRD) found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. According to Dr Roboz the biology of the remaining leukemia cells may not be similar to the bulk disease that was eliminated with initial therapy. Currently there are efforts to characterize and quantify the remaining cells, with the hopes to determine whether existing or novel treatments can be used to lower their number to below the threshold level required for stem cell transplants. Furthermore, stem cell transplants are dramatically less effective if there is minimal residual disease detected so any therapy to reduce these cells may confer an advantage. Recorded at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the British Society of Haematology (BSH) and International Society of Hematology (ISH), in Glasgow, Scotland.

Original story posted to Video Journal of Hematological Oncology [go]


What to Expect When You’re Expecting MDS

Dr. Ritchie provides and in-depth look at what it takes to diagnose MDS. For more information visit crushdmds.org.


AAMDS Boston Patient & Family Conference

Calling all north east patients and family members. AAMDS is holding a conference on Saturday, September 19 in Boston.

For more information please visit the AAMDS website


Dose Escalation and Cohort Expansion Study of TEN-010 in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome

The Weill Cornell Leukemia Program has recently opened a new clinical trial for men and women who have been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) or Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). The study sponsor is Tensha Therapeutics, Inc. and the principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. Gail Roboz. For more information about the study, please call Tania Curcio, RN at (212) 746-2571 or e-mail tjc9003@med.cornell.edu.

Key Eligibility

  • Men and women age 18 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of AML or MDS
  • Previously treated with at least one prior therapy
  • Subjects with a history of allogeneic (from another person) stem cell transplant are eligible for study participation
  • Life expectancy of at least 2 months
  • Detailed eligibility reviewed when you contact the study team

Study Details

This is a Phase 1, non-randomized, open-label, multi-center study that utilizes the investigational study drug TEN-010. TEN-010 belongs to a group of drugs called bromodomain inhibitors.  Bromodomains are found in cancer cells and bromodomain inhibitors may have promise as a therapy for patients who have cancer.  Currently, there are no bromodomain inhibitors approved by the FDA for humans. Research in the laboratory has shown that TEN 010 kills cancer cells in different types of both blood cancers.

The study is conducted in two parts; Part A and Part B. In Part A, escalating doses of TEN-010 will be administered to patients to evaluate safety and side effects that may limit the amount of TEN-010 given to patients. One of the goals of Part A is to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of TEN-010. Part B is an expansion study in which patients are treated at the MTD of TEN-010 to identify safety, tolerability, and how well the disease responds to treatment with TEN-010.

All subjects participating in this study will receive the study drug TEN-010 once daily. Subjects will be assigned to one of three different dose levels ranging from 0.06 mg/kg to 0.24 mg/kg .


New Clinical Trial: Randomized, Open Label, Phase 2 Study of Selinexor (KPT-330) vs Physician’s Choice in Patients Greater Than or Equal to 60 Years Old with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) who are Ineligible for Intensive Chemotherapy and/or Transplant

The Weill Cornell Leukemia Program has recently opened a new clinical trial for men and women who have been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The study sponsor is Karyopharm Therapeutics and the principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. Gail Roboz. For more information about the study, please call Tania Curcio, RN at (212) 746-2571 or e-mail tjc9003@med.cornell.edu.

Key Eligibility

  • Men and women age 60 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of AML
  • Previously treated with at least one prior therapy
  • Have not undergone and currently  ineligible for stem cell transplant and/or intensive chemotherapy
  • Have not been diagnosed with Acute Promyelotic Leukemia (AML M3),  Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), and Central Nervous System Leukemia
  • Detailed eligibility reviewed when you contact the study team

Study Details

This randomized, open label study has been designed to assess whether Selinexor (KPT-330) can improve the overall survival in patients with relapsed or refractory AML who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy. Selinexor (KPT-330) works by trapping “tumor suppressing proteins” within the cell and thus causing the cancer cells to die or stop growing.  The study drug has previously been tested in humans to define a safe dose to be administered. Selinexor is currently being tested in other clinical trials in patients with advanced cancers. This study will examine the effects of Selinexor on AML and the side effects that may occur as a result of treatment. It will also compare the effect of Selinexor with the effect of other existing treatments for AML that your physician can recommend.

Potential subjects will be enrolled in of two treatment groups:
Treatment group 1: In group 1, KPT-330 will be given orally (by mouth) twice weekly
Treatment group 2: In group 2, your physician will choose one of the following AML treatments that are currently available:

  • Best supportive care (BSC) including blood product transfusions, antimicrobial drugs, growth factors as needed, and hydroxyurea
  • BSC + low dose Ara-C given twice a day by subcutaneous injection
  • BSC + hypomethylating agent azacitidine given by subcutaneous injection or decitabine administered intravenously

Selinexor will be given orally twice weekly (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday) at a dose of 60-120 mg


Dr. Gail Roboz to speak at free interactive conference in Philadelphia – Saturday, May 17

On Saturday, May 17, Dr. Gail Roboz will speak at a free interactive conference in Philadelphia for patients and families living bone marrow failure diseases http://bit.ly/1jaCJan The conference is sponsored by the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF). If you’re in the Philadelphia area from 8:30a to 5p please join Dr. Roboz and other leading experts in what promises to be an engaging discussion to help families of and people living with cancer. For more information and to register: http://bit.ly/1jjQOMK