Trials assessing first-line, fixed-duration approaches in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are yielding promising activity, but few long-term data are available. We report follow-up data from a phase 2 trial (ICLL07 FILO) in previously untreated, medically fit patients (N = 135). Patients underwent obinutuzumab-ibrutinib induction for 9 months; then, following evaluation (N = 130 evaluable), those in complete remission and with bone marrow measurable residual disease (BM MRD) <0.01% (n = 10) received ibrutinib for 6 additional months; those in partial remission and/or with BM MRD ≥0.01%, the majority (n = 120), also received 4 cycles of immunochemotherapy (fludarabine/cyclophosphamide-obinutuzumab). Beyond end of treatment, responses were assessed every 3 month and peripheral blood MRD every 6 months. At median follow-up 36.7 months from treatment start, progression-free and overall survival rates (95% confidence interval) at 3 years were 95.7% (92.0% to 99.5%) and 98% (95.1% to 100%), respectively. Peripheral blood MRD <0.01% rates were 97%, 96%, 90%, 84%, and 89% at months 16, 22, 28, 34, and 40, respectively. No new treatment-related or serious adverse event occurred beyond end of treatment. Thus, in previously untreated, medically fit patients with CLL, a fixed-duration (15 months), MRD-guided approach achieved high survival rates, a persistent MRD benefit beyond the end of treatment, and low long-term toxicity. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02666898.

Background: The role of maintenance lenalidomide in myeloma, following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) or not, is well established. However, 29% of patients discontinue the treatment with a median duration of less than 2 years with an increased rate of secondary primary malignancies (SPM). Pomalidomide could provide alternative maintenance therapy. Methods: This was a single arm phase II study of pomalidomide/dex (PD) maintenance therapy for MM patients (pts) in first relapse after treatment in the IFM 2009 trial. At first relapse, 100 pts received pomalidomide/cyclophosphamide/dex (PCD) for 4 cycles, after which half underwent ASCT (if no first line transplant) followed by 2 cycles of PCD consolidation (Arm A), or 5 cycles of PCD (if previously transplanted) (Arm B). All pts then received maintenance therapy consisting of 28-day cycles of pomalidomide 4 mg daily on days 1-21 and dex 20 mg once a week until progression (Blood 2018). The primary objective was to establish the safety and efficacy of PD as maintenance therapy. Results: A total of 75 pts were enrolled in the maintenance phase from January 2015 to November 2017 (Table 1) and the database was locked on 07/07/2021. The median age was 60 (range 39-70); 67% (50/75) were male. 53 pts had ISS stage I, 10 stage II and 3 stage III disease (9 missing). Infectious prophylaxis was antiviral in 94%, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim in 76%, penicillin in 69% and fluoroquinolone in 38%. A granulocyte colony stimulating factor was administered in 15 (20%) pts and immunoglobulins in 13 (17%). One quarter had thromboprophylaxis. The median follow-up was 73 months (95% CI: 68-75). Among the 75 pts, 63 (84%) left the study, 34 (54%) due to progressive disease, 19 (30%) due to AE/SAE, 7 (11%) on investigator (PI) discretion and 3 (5%) after consent withdrawal. 12 (16%) remained on therapy in July 2021.The median duration of maintenance was 23.7 months (IQR: 14.5-44). Pts received a median of 26 cycles (range 1-80) and 17 (23%) had 50 or more cycles. The reasons for pomalidomide discontinuation were progression or death in 54%, AE/SAE in 30%, PI decisions in 11% and patient decisions in 5%. 56 (75%) pts required a reduction in the dose of pomalidomide due to AE/SAE in 50%, omission in 19%, resumption of treatment in 11%, PI decisions in 16% and patient decisions in 2.7%. The reasons for dex discontinuation were progression or death in 30%, AE/SAE in 43%, PI decisions in 22% and patient decisions in 3%. 57 (76%) pts required a reduction in the dose of dex due to AE/SAE in 54%, omission in 3.4%, resumption of treatment in 0.3%, PI decisions in 38.7% and patient decisions in 3.1%. 31 SAE were reported in 22 pts: 13 (42%) infections, 5 tumors, 1 case of thrombosis, 1 diabetic ketoacidosis and 12 others. Grade 3/4 hematologic AE included neutropenia (51%), lymphopenia (35%), anemia and thrombocytopenia (0%). G3/4 drug-related non-hematologic AE (>5%) comprised 13% infections (5% pneumonia). G1/2 AE included 69% infections (49% bronchitis), 49.3% gastrointestinal disorders (20% diarrhea, 20% constipation), 48% fatigue, 31% skin disorders, 25% muscle spasms, 24% insomnia and 14.7% eye disorders (6.7% cataracts, 4% dry eyes). Concerning peripheral neuropathy, one patient had G3/4 and 45% G1/2. Eight pts developed SPM: 4 basocellular carcinoma, 1 epidermoid carcinoma, 1 melanoma, 1 colon carcinoma and 1 non small cell bronchial carcinoma. We observed an improvement in the response from the initiation of treatment: PR: 32.4 to 17.4%, VGPR: 56.8 to 49.3%, CR: 9.5 to 28%, sCR: 0 to 5.3% (at initiation to best response, respectively). A total of 33.4% of pts improved their response. The median PFS was 33.2 months (95% CI: 25.6-53.3). 41 pts died and the median OS was not reached (95% CI: 70.7-NR). All deaths were related to myeloma progression except 2 due to pulmonary infection, 1 lung carcinoma and 1 colorectal cancer. Conclusions: In the first relapse PCD trial, 75% initiated maintenance therapy. Long term administration of pomalidomide/dexamethasone as maintenance therapy is feasible. Thirty percent stopped pomalidomide because of SAE/AE, mostly related to hematologic AE, but this could be managed with dose reductions. There was generally G1/2 neuropathy, rare SPM and no other unexpected toxicity. One third of the pts improved their depth of response. The combination is safe, feasible and well tolerated and experience to date supports its further exploration with monoclonal antibodies.

PURPOSE We report a multicenter controlled trial comparing renal recovery and tolerance profile of doublet versus triplet bortezomib-based regimens in patients with initial myeloma cast nephropathy (CN) and acute kidney injury (AKI) without need for dialysis. METHODS After symptomatic measures and high-dose dexamethasone, patients were randomly assigned to receive bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BD), or BD plus cyclophosphamide (C-BD). In patients with < 50% reduction of serum free light chains (sFLCs) after 3 cycles, chemotherapy was reinforced with either cyclophosphamide (BD group) or thalidomide (C-BD group). RESULTS Ninety-two patients were enrolled in each group. At random assignment, characteristics of the 2 groups were similar, including median age (68 years) and serum creatinine level (305.5 and 273.5 µmol/L in BD and C-BD group, respectively). At 3 months, renal response rate (primary end point) was not different (41 v 47 responders in the BD and C-BD groups, respectively; relative risk [RR], 0.87; P = .46). Very good partial response (free light chain reduction ≥ 90%) or more was achieved in 36 and 47 patients, respectively (RR, 0.76; P = .10). After 1 cycle of chemotherapy, 69 in the BD group and 67 patients in the C-BD group had achieved sFLC level ≤ 500 mg/L. Serious adverse events were recorded in 30 and 40 patients, respectively. At 12 months, 19 patients had died (9 in the BD group v 10 in the C-BD group), including 10 (6 in the BD group and 4 in the C-BD group) from myeloma progression and 3 (0 in the BD group and 3 in the C-BD group) from infection. Within median follow-up of 27 months, 43 and 42 patients switched to new therapy, respectively. Overall, 50 patients (24 in the BD group and 26 in the C-BD group) had died. CONCLUSION This randomized study did not show any benefit of C-BD compared with BD on renal recovery of patients with initial CN not requiring dialysis. Adding cyclophosphamide did not sufficiently improve the efficacy-toxicity balance. Patients with myeloma with AKI are fragile, and indication for doublet or triplet regimen should be adapted to frailty.

French National Cancer Institute (INCA) and the Fondation Francaise pour la Recherche contre le Myelome et les Gammapathies (FFMRG), the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM), NCI R01 NCI CA167824 and a generous donation from Matthew Bell. This work was supported in part through the computational resources and staff expertise provided by Scientific Computing at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Research reported in this paper was supported by the Office of Research Infrastructure of the National Institutes of Health under award number S10OD018522. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors thank the Association des Malades du Myelome Multiple (AF3M) for their continued support and participation. Where authors are identified as personnel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization, the authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of the International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization

Background In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, achievement of a complete response with minimal residual disease of less than 0.01% (ie, <1 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cell per 10 000 leukocytes) in bone marrow has been associated with improved progression-free survival. We aimed to explore the activity of induction therapy for 9 months with obinutuzuinab and ibrutinib, followed up with a minimal residual disease-driven therapeutic strategy for 6 additional months, in previously untreated patients. Methods Wedida single-arm, phase 2trialin 27universityhospitals,general hospitals,and specialist cancercentres in France. Eligible patients were at least 18 years old and previously untreated, and had immunophenotypically confirmed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of less than 2; a Binet stage C according to IWCLL 2008 criteria or Binet stage A and B with active disease; no 17p deletion or absence of p53 mutation; and were considered medically fit. In the first part of the study (induction phase), all participants received eight intravenous infusions of obinutuzumab 1000 mg over six 4-weekly cycles and oral ibrutinib 420 mg once per day for 9 months. In part 2, after assessment on day 1 of month 9, patients with a complete response and bone marrow minimal residual disease of less than 0.01% received only oral ibrutinib 420 mg once per day for 6 additional months. Patients with a partial response, or with a complete response and bone marrow minimal residual disease of 0.01% or more, received 6 months of four 4-weekly cycles of intravenous fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and obinutuzumab 1000 mg, alongside continuing ibrutinib 420 mg once per day. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving a complete response with bone marrow minimal residual disease less than 0.01% on day 1 of month 16 assessed by intention to treat (ITT). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT02666898) and is still open for follow-up. Findings Between Oct 27, 2015, and May 16, 2017, 135 patients were enrolled. After induction treatment (day 1 of month 9), 130 patients were evaluable, of which ten (8%) achieved a complete response with bone marrow minimal residual disease of less than 0.01% and were assigned to ibrutinib, and 120 (92%) were assigned to ibrutinib plus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and obinutuzumab. After minimal residual disease-guided treatment (day 1 of month 16), 84 (62%, 90% CI 55-69) of 135 patients (ITT population) achieved a complete response with bone marrow minimal residual disease of less than 0-01%. The most common haematological adverse event was thrombocytopenia (in 45 [34%] of 133 patients at grade 1-2 in months 1-9 and in 43 [33%] of 130 patients at grade 1-2 in months 9-15). The most common non-haematological adverse events were infusion-related reactions (in 83 [62%] patients at grade 1-2 in months 1-9) and gastrointestinal disorders (in 62 [48%] patients at grades 1 and 2 in months 9-15). 49 serious adverse events occurred, most frequently infections (ten), cardiac events (eight), and haematological events (eight). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Interpretation Obinutuzumab and ibrutinib induction therapy followed by a minimal residual disease driven strategy is safe and active in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. With longer follow-up, including assessing the evolution of minimal residual disease, if response is maintained, this strategy could be an option in the first-line setting in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, although randomised evidence is needed. Copyright (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Introduction In previously untreated, medically fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and no 17p deletion, there is current research interest in improving survival outcomes and potentially sparing some patients from the standard 6 cycles of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR). The phase II ICLL-07 (NCT02666898) trial, conducted by the French Innovative Leukemia Organization (FILO), aimed to explore the efficacy of obinutuzumab and ibrutinib treatment induction for 9 months, followed by a minimal residual disease (MRD)-driven strategy. Methods Following assessment at Month 9, patients in complete response (CR) with bone marrow (BM) MRD <0·01% continued only ibrutinib 420 mg po daily for 6 additional months (I arm). Otherwise, patients received 4x4-weekly cycles of fludarabine/cyclophosphamide (FC) and obinutuzumab 1000 mg iv, alongside continuing ibrutinib for 6 additional months (FCGA+I arm). Beyond Month 16, response was clinically assessed every 3 months and MRD in PB until Month 40 and every 6 months during 36 months. MRD assessment was by 8-colour flow cytometry (limit of detection 10-6). The primary objective was to demonstrate a 30% or higher rate of CR with BM MRD <0·01% at Month 16, by intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were secondary endpoints. ResultsBetween 10/2015 and 05/2017, 135 patients were enrolled. At Month 9, only 8% of patients reached CR with BM MRD <0·01%, and thus, in accordance with the MRD-driven strategy, were included in the I arm and continued only ibrutinib for 6 additional months. Most patients were included in the FCGA+I arm and received 4 cycles of FC and obinutuzumab, alongside continuing ibrutinib for 6 additional months. At Month 16, the ITT rate of CR with BM MRD <0·01% was 62% (84/135; 90% confidence interval [CI] 55−69). Of note, the primary objective was exceeded, and this high ITT rate was achieved with no more than 4 cycles of FC and obinutuzumab. The CR rate was 73% by investigator assessment versus 75% by an independent review committee. The PB and BM MRD <0·01% rate was 79%. The most common haematological adverse event (AE) was thrombocytopenia in 45 (34%) of 133 patients at grade 1−2 in Months 1−9 and in 43 (33%) of 130 patients at grade 1−2 in Months 9−15. The most common non-haematological AE were infusion-related reaction in 83 (62%) patients at grade 1−2 in Months 1−9 and gastrointestinal disorders in 62 (48%) patients at grade 1−2 in Months 9−15. A total of 49 serious AE occurred, most frequently infections (10), cardiac events (8) and haematological events (8). No treatment-related deaths occurred. After a median follow-up of 26.3 months, the 2-year PFS rate was 98% (95% CI 95−100) (Figure 1) and the 2-year OS rate was 97.5% (95% CI 96−100). The longitudinal follow-up of PB MRD in the entire cohort showed durability of a deep response, with a PB MRD <0.01% rate of 96% (n=92 evaluable patients) at Month 22 and 91% (n=85 evaluable patients) at Month 28. According to the treatment arm, in the FCGA+I arm, the PB MRD <0.01% rate was 99% at Month 22 and 93% at Month 28; by contrast, in the I arm, 77% of patients had PB MRD <0.01% at each of Months 22 and 28. The strategy achieved deep and durable molecular remission with a high level of undetectable (UD) PB MRD that was maintained over time, as shown in Figure 2. At Month 28, the rate of UD PB MRD was 83% in the FCGA+I arm versus 54% in the I arm. According to the immunoglobulin heavy gene variable (IGHV) mutational status, the PB MRD ≥0.01% rate at Month 28 was 4% for the mutated group versus 23% for the unmutated group (p=0.075, Fisher test). Conclusion These findings from the ICLL-07 trial demonstrated that, in previously untreated, medically fit patients with CLL and no 17p deletion, treatment induction with obinutuzumab and ibrutinib followed by an MRD-driven strategy yielded a high rate of CR with BM and PB MRD <0.01%, together with prolonged PFS and OS. With longer follow-up, including assessing the evolution of PB MRD, the response is maintained. This strategy could be an option in the first-line setting, although randomised trial evidence is needed. Disclosures Salles: Roche, Janssen, Gilead, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Educational events. Leblond:Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Cartron:Roche, Celgene: Consultancy; Sanofi, Gilead, Janssen, Roche, Celgene: Honoraria. Cymbalista:Sunesis: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria. Le Garff-Tavernier:Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria. Letestu:Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts. Feugier:janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; roche: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Background:In 2005, a national registry was established to collect epidemiological and clinical data for patients with beta‐thalassemia living in France. The objective of this data collection was to better understand patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes among patients followed in France. Completeness is achieved by cross‐checking with different sources. The registry collects data on patients with beta‐thalassemia major TM) (defined as requiring ≥8 RBC transfusions per year) and thalassemia intermedia (TI). Data is updated every 2 years.Aims:Here, we first describe the whole population included in the registry with the number and causes of death during the period 2005–2017; second, we focus on a sub‐group of transfusion‐dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients followed from 2009/2010 for 2 to 6 years.Methods:Patients were included between 01/01/2005 and 31/01/2019. A cross sectional study and a longitudinal study were performed in February 2019. For the longitudinal study, TDT (either TM or TI) patients included in the registry before 2010 were selected. Baseline data corresponds to data collected in 2009 or 2010 and 2‐, 4‐, and 6‐year data corresponds to data collected during follow‐up. Iron overload was assessed by serum ferritin (SF) level and hepatic and cardiac MRI. Iron measurement risk category cutoffs based on published literature were ≤20 ms (intermediate risk) and ≤10 ms (high risk) for cardiac T2∗ and ≥7 mg/gDW (intermediate risk) and ≥15 mg/gDW (high risk) for liver iron content (LIC) by MRI.Results:A total of 666 patients (441 with TM) with a median age of 23, was included in the registry since 2005. HSC transplantation was performed in 116 patients. Genotype was available for 298 patients and is constituted of 2 beta0‐mutations in 2/3 of the cases. During the period of follow‐up (01/01/2005 to 31/01/2019) 34 patients died (8.5 deaths for 1000 patients‐years), 27 patients with TM and 7 with TI. The main causes of death were heart failure (14) and infections (10).Regarding TDT patients followed for up to 6 years, 272 patients with TDT and at least a 2‐year follow‐up were identified at baseline. At 6 years, data was available for 198 of them. The % of patients who had a hepatic MRI increased from 51 to 65% and a cardiac MRI, from 30.5 to 52.5%. At baseline, 37% and 17% of patients presented with intermediate or high SF respectively, 25.8 and 38.2% with intermediate or high liver iron concentration. High myocardial risk was evidenced in 8.5% of the patients. After 6 years of follow up, the proportions remained identical in the intermediate risk group and slightly decreased in the high‐risk group (11.3, 24.9 and 4.8% for SF level, LIC and T2∗ respectively).After 6 years, the cumulative proportion surviving without any complication (among the following: death, heart failure, arrhythmia, hepatic failure, hypothyroidism, diabetes) is 79.8% in the group of patients with age up to 12.Deferasirox remains the most frequent chelation agent used in monotherapy with 65% of patients using this agent at baseline and 57% after 6 years. Deferiprone use increased from 11% to 22% during the same period. A Combination of 2 chelators increased from 10 to 15%.Summary/Conclusion:This real‐world study provides information about treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with Thalassemia enrolled in the French thalassemia registry. Some patients with TDT continued to experience high liver and cardiac iron levels and related complications, despite ongoing treatment with chelating agents.

Mutational analyses performed following acquired ibrutinib resistance have suggested that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) progression on ibrutinib is linked to mutations in Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and/or phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCG2) genes. Mutational information for patients still on ibrutinib is limited. We report a study aimed to provide a “snapshot” of the prevalence of mutations in a real-life CLL cohort still on ibrutinib after at least 3 years of treatment. Of 204 patients who initiated ibrutinib via an early-access program at 29 French Innovative Leukemia Organization (FILO) centers, 63 (31%) were still on ibrutinib after 3 years and 57 provided a fresh blood sample. Thirty patients had a CLL clone ≥0.5 × 109/L, enabling next-generation sequencing (NGS); BTK and PLCG2 mutations were detected in 57% and 13% of the NGS samples, respectively. After median follow-up of 8.5 months from sample collection, the presence of a BTK mutation was significantly associated with subsequent CLL progression (P = .0005 vs no BTK mutation). Our findings support that mutational analysis should be considered in patients receiving ibrutinib who have residual clonal lymphocytosis, and that clinical trials are needed to evaluate whether patients with a BTK mutation may benefit from an early switch to another treatment.

The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is higher in myeloma patients receiving immunomodulatory compounds. A VTE prophylaxis using low-molecular-weight heparin or aspirin is therefore proposed. Apixaban is an oral direct anti-Xa. Several studies have shown the efficacy and safety of apixaban in VTE prophylaxis compared to enoxaparin. The objective of this prospective phase 2 pilot study was to assess the risk of VTE and bleeding in patients with myeloma treated with immunomodulatory compounds lenalidomide (len) or thalidomide (thal), using apixaban in a preventive scheme. Myeloma patients requiring Melphalan-Prednisone-Thalidomide in the first line, or Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone in the relapse setting received apixaban, 2.5 mg x 2/day for 6 months. Venous (pulmonary embolism-PE, or symptomatic proximal or distal deep vein thrombosis-DVT, or all proximal asymptomatic events detected by systematic proximal bilateral compression ultrasound) or arterial thrombotic events, and bleeding events (ISTH 2005) were registered. One hundred and four patients were enrolled (mean age 69.8 ± 7.8 years), 11 in first line and 93 in relapse. Two venous thrombotic events were observed, for example, an asymptomatic proximal DVT and a symptomatic distal DVT, in the context of apixaban stopped 14 days before, due to lenalidomide-induced thrombocytopenia. No PE or arterial cardiovascular events were reported. Only one major and 11 CRNM hemorrhages were reported. These data must now be confirmed on a randomized large study.

Background: triplet combinations comprising a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) are current standard induction and consolidation regimens in NDMM. The all-oral combination of weekly ixazomib plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone (IRd) has been evaluated by several groups in NDMM and is approved in relapsed-refractory MM. The IFM 2014-01 phase 2 trial previously studied the weekly IRd regimen as induction and extended consolidation followed by single-agent ixazomib maintenance in frontline transplant eligible patients (Moreau et al ASH meeting 2016): IRd was well tolerated and overall response rate was 81%, including 38% very good partial response or better (≥VGPR) at the completion of induction (3 cycles). Responses further increased at each step of the program and 76% of patients (per protocole analysis) achieved ≥VGPR before maintenance with 6% CR and 38% sCR. To stay in line with current RVd regimen, and to increase dose intensity, we examined the efficacy and safety of twice-weekly ixazomib +Rd as induction prior to transplant, followed by weekly IRd consolidation and single-agent lenalidomide maintenance (NCT02897830). Methods: This is a phase II, single-arm, open-label, multicenter study. During induction, patients received three 21-day cycles of twice-weekly oral IRd: ixazomib (3 mg on days 1, 4, 8 and 11), lenalidomide (25 mg daily, days 1-14), and dexamethasone (40 mg on days 1, 4, 8 and 11) followed by transplant. Patients then received two 28-day cycles of weekly IRd early consolidation followed by 6 additional cycles of IR (no dexamethasone) as late consolidation (ixazomib 4mg on days 1-8 and 15; lenalidomide 25mg daily, days 1-21). Single-agent lenalidomide maintenance was administered for up to 1 year (10 mg daily, days 1-21). The primary endpoint was the stringent complete response (sCR) rate at the completion of consolidation. The secondary endpoints included assessments of overall response rate (ORR) and rates of response categories at each step of the program, progression-free survival (PFS), feasibility and safety. Responses were assessed in accordance with the IMWG uniform criteria. Toxicity was evaluated according to NCI CTCAE, version 4.03. Results Between 07/2016 and 08/2017, 50 patients with NDMM were screened at 10 IFM centers, 46 were enrolled with a median age of 59 years, and 59% were male. The percentages of patients with ISS stage I, II, and III were 41.5%, 41.5%, and 17%, respectively. High-risk cytogenetics, defined as t (4; 14), or del17p (central Lab, H. Avet-Loiseau), was observed in 9% of patients (6.5% FISH failure). As of July 1st 2019 (data cut-off), 10 patients prematurely discontinued therapy. Considering efficacy, 43/46 patients (94%) completed consolidation and 9 achieved sCR (20.9%; 90% CI [11.4 to 33.7]). This result did not meet the minimum efficacy threshold (40%) for the primary efficacy endpoint (p=0.998). Overall, at the completion of consolidation, ORR was 91% including 21% sCR, 30% ≥CR and 58%≥VGPR. Responses at each step of the program are described in the table 1. If we focus on twice-weekly IRd induction, at the completion of 3 cycles, ORR was 74%, including 33% ≥VGPR. The feasibility of the program was good and overall, 39/46 patients (85%) were able to receive maintenance therapy with single-agent lenalidomide. After a median follow-up of 22 months, 7 patients progressed and 3 patients died. Concerning safety: 31 serious treatment emergent AEs were reported in 20 patients (43.5%) comprising infections (8 patients), cardiac disorders (2 patients: ischemic heart disease and aortic valve incompetence), psychiatric, renal and respiratory disorders (2 cases each). No grade 3-4 peripheral neuropathy was described. Conclusions The all-oral Ixazomib-Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone (IRd) induction/consolidation regimen in the transplant setting is convenient, well tolerated, leading to 21% sCR before maintenance. Twice-weekly IRd induction does not seem superior to weekly IRd induction Results on response rates following maintenance and MRD data will be presented during the meeting. Table Disclosures Roussel: Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding; takeda: Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding; Amgen: Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding. Hebraud:celgene: Other: travel fees, lecture fees; takeda: Other: travel fees, lecture fees. Hulin:Janssen, AbbVie, Celgene, Amgen: Honoraria; celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Leleu:Oncopeptide: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Carsgen: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Merck: Honoraria. Facon:Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Touzeau:celgene: Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding; takeda: Other: travel fees, lecture fees. Perrot:jannsen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria; takeda: Honoraria. Stoppa:celgene: Other: travel fees, lecture fees; takeda: Other: travel fees. Moreau:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria. Avet-Loiseau:takeda: Consultancy, Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding; celgene: Consultancy, Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding. Attal:celgene: Consultancy, Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding; takeda: Consultancy, Other: travel fees, lecture fees, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Ixazomib is indicated in RRMM in association with Rd

The combination of pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (Pom-Dex) has proved effective and safe in patients with end-stage relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), otherwise characterized by a very poor outcome. MM remains an incurable disease with unavoidable relapses, and the outcome after pomalidomide is still dismal. However, some patients demonstrate prolonged survival even beyond pomalidomide therapy. We sought to analyze the treatment of RRMM patients following Pom-Dex therapy and the response and survival after this next treatment line. We studied 134 patients treated with Pom-Dex until progression across two IFM studies. Seventy percent of these patients received further therapy after Pom-Dex. Among the treated patients, one third responded and one third maintained stable disease. The median OS for treated patients was 12 months (6.5;17), with 22 and 12.5% of patients surviving beyond 2 and 3 years, respectively. The factors associated with a better outcome were exposure to a triplet-based regimen containing a novel agent, response to therapy, absence of adverse cytogenetic, and a longer time from diagnosis to post pomalidomide therapy. This study suggests that patients relapsing after Pom-Dex therapy can still benefit from a further line of treatment. A subset of these treated patients even displayed a prolonged OS, while the prognosis remained very poor without treatment. An active approach could therefore be recommended even in this adverse situation, however guided by the patients' prognosis factors.

It is important to have an effective therapy for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) at first relapse, particularly if an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is considered at this stage. This multicenter, phase 2 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of weekly oral pomalidomide-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone (PCD) in patients with MM in first relapse after treatment with lenalidomide-bortezomib-dexamethasone (RVD). All patients had received RVD as induction and consolidation therapy, plus lenalidomide maintenance for 1 year (arm A). Half had also received an ASCT after induction (arm B). At MM relapse, all patients received 4 oral cycles of pomalidomide 4 mg (days 1-21), cyclophosphamide 300 mg (days 1, 8, 15, and 22), and dexamethasone 40 mg (days 1-4 and days 15-18 of a 28-day cycle; PCD). Responding patients in arm A underwent ASCT and received 2 additional cycles of PCD, whereas those in arm B received 5 cycles of PCD. All patients received pomalidomide-dexamethasone maintenance until disease progression. Primary end point was partial remission or better after the initial 4 cycles of PCD. Responses were obtained in 82/97 (85%) patients evaluated: complete remission (n = 1; 1%), very good partial remission (n = 32; 33%), and partial remission (n = 49; 51%). Three patients (3%) had stable disease, and 6 (6%) had disease progression (6 response failures). Forty-five (94%) of the 48 patients in arm A underwent planned ASCT. PCD was effective therapy after first relapse with RVD. After 4 cycles, the rate of partial remission or better was 85%, and 94% of planned ASCTs were performed. Toxicity was mostly hematologic and manageable. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02244125.

Achievement of CR with undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) may be associated with a longer survival in CLL, but BCR signaling inhibitors alone seldom allow reaching uMRD. We conducted a multicenter phase II trial aiming at exploring the efficacy of an induction treatment associating obinutuzumab and ibrutinib, followed by immunochemotherapy for patients who do not reach CR with uMRD. Previously untreated fit patients with active Binet stage A and B or stage C CLL, no TP53 mutation/deletion, CIRS score < 7 and ECOG 0 or 1 were eligible. Induction treatment consisted of 6 courses of obinutuzumab (1000 mg D1, D8, D15 for cycle 1 and D1 for cycles 2 to 6) along with ibrutinib 420 mg/d for 9 months. Assessment of response to induction was performed at month 9, including CT-scan, bone marrow (BM) biopsy, peripheral blood (PB) and BM MRD testing. Patients in CR with BM MRD < 0.01% (by 8-color flow cytometry) received ibrutinib alone for 6 additional months whereas all the other patients received 4 courses of fludarabine (F) + cyclophosphamide (C) and obinutuzumab along with continuous ibrutinib until month 16. Patients with stable or progressive disease were taken off study. Final evaluation of response was performed at D1 Month 16. The primary endpoint of this study was the rate of CR (according to IWCLL 2008 guidelines) with uMRD in BM at month 16 and the assumption that at least 30% of patients would achieve this goal at the end of the overall strategy.

Abstract Background. Progression by serum free light chain (sFLC) test without or preceding progression with intact immunoglobulin (Ig) is called light chain escape. This event alone is not considered a progression for patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM) according to International guidelines, although it is often considered a progression in real life and by clinical trials' investigators. We therefore sought to determine whether light chain escape would be a predictor of relapse and thus question a possible need to modify the current criteria for progression according to the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG). Material and method. We have reviewed 325 (323 for analysis) patients that presented with a progression in the IFM/DFCI2009 phase 3 study (Attal et al. NEJM 2017). Among these 323 patients, 260 had initial tumor bulk measurement with intact Ig by serum protein electrophoresis test (SPEP; Ig ≥ 10 g/L) and 63 light chain MM (Ig < 10 g/L) measured using urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP). All progressions were validated in the central laboratory of CHU de Nantes (Dr T. Dejoie) and followed IMWG recommendations. sFLC increase was determined by absolute increase ≥ 100 mg/L and ≥ 25% from nadir value of the difference between involved and uninvolved FLC (ΔiFLC). Light chain escape was defined as sFLC increase without progression by SPEP (Ig increase ≥ 5 g/L and ≥ 25%) or UPEP (increase ≥ 200 mg/24h and ≥ 25%). Results. Among the 260 patients with intact Ig at diagnosis, 3 (1.15%) patients presented a light chain escape: progression by sFLC test without progression by SPEP. In parallel, 228 patients (87.7%) progressed by SPEP, of whom 18/228 (6.25%) showed a sFLC increase preceding the increase of intact Ig, with a median delay of 63 days. Among the 63 light chain MM, 6 (9.5%) patients presented a light chain escape: progression by sFLC test without progression by UPEP. Interestingly, 6 other patients (9.5%) progressed by SPEP even though Ig was < 10 g/L at diagnosis. Of the remaining 46 patients, 38 (60.3%) showed sFLC increase before progression by UPEP. Finally, 8 patients (12.7%) progressed but with intact Ig pauci-secreting MM meeting none of the M spike based progression criteria. Median time from iFLC nadir to ΔiFLC ≥ 100 mg/L was 280 days for light chain MM, 496 days for intact Ig MM, and 651 days for light chain escape. Median time from ΔiFLC ≥ 100 mg/L to follow-up visit to assess progression was 402 days light chain MM, 536 days for intact Ig MM, and 713 days for light chain escape. Overall, 9 (3%) patients had true light chain escape with progression by sFLC test without any other progression criteria. In parallel, in 56 (17%) patients, sFLC increase preceded progression to MM by standard test (SPEP or UPEP). Still the vast majority of patients had a regular relapse using the standard markers for progression. Conclusion. Based on a large study of patients treated into a phase 3 clinical trial with centralized assessment of response and progression, we showed that 20% of patients had progression by sFLC without meeting standard progression markers, of whom 3% had true light chain escape and 17% early light chain increase. Even though true light chain escape seems to be a rare phenomenon, analysis of sFLC test could help to avoid delayed or missed diagnosis of progression in 20% of patients in this clinical trial. This data should be confirmed in another database to assess whether a modification in the progression criteria in MM International guidelines should be proposed. Disclosures Hulin: Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Roussel:Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy. Hebraud:Amgen: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Lecture fees; travel and accommodation for congress, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Lecture fees, Research Funding. Karlin:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel support; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel support. Belhadj:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria. Decaux:Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Garderet:Amgen: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Facon:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Avet-Loiseau:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Moreau:Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Attal:Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janseen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy. Leleu:Karyopharm: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership ; Roche: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership steering committee membership ; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership ; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership ; Merk: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership ; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership ; BMS: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership ; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: steering committee membership ; Janssen: Honoraria, Other.

The introduction of novel agents has led to major improvements in clinical outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma. To shorten evaluation times for new treatments, health agencies are currently examining minimal residual disease (MRD) as a surrogate end point in clinical trials. We assessed the prognostic value of MRD, measured during maintenance therapy by next-generation sequencing (NGS). MRD negativity was defined as the absence of tumor plasma cell within 1 000 000 bone marrow cells (<10-6). Data were analyzed from a recent clinical trial that evaluated the role of transplantation in newly diagnosed myeloma patients treated with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVD). MRD negativity was achieved at least once during maintenance in 127 patients (25%). At the start of maintenance therapy, MRD was a strong prognostic factor for both progression-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.34; P < .001) and overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.54; P = .001). Patients who were MRD negative had a higher probability of prolonged progression-free survival than patients with detectable residual disease, regardless of treatment group (RVD vs transplant), cytogenetic risk profile, or International Staging System disease stage at diagnosis. These results were similar after completion of maintenance therapy. Our findings confirm the value of MRD status, as determined by NGS, as a prognostic biomarker in multiple myeloma, and suggest that this approach could be used to adapt treatment strategies in future clinical trials.

Venetoclax (VEN), an orally available selective small-molecule BCL-2 inhibitor, induces cell death in multiple myeloma (MM) cells, particularly those with the t(11;14) translocation.