Impact of early remission by induction therapy on allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia with an intermediate-risk karyotype in first complete remission

Metabolic Profiling during Acute Myeloid Leukemia Progression Using Paired Clinical Bone Marrow Serum Samples

Cellular metabolic changes reflect the characteristics of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) caused by genetic variations, which are important in establishing AML treatment. However, little is known about the metabolic profile of patients with genetic variation-induced AML. Furthermore, the metabolites differ with disease progression. Here, metabolites in the bone marrow serum of ten patients with AML and healthy individuals were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Compared with that in healthy individuals, expression of most metabolites decreased in patients with AML; hydroxylamine, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, monomethylphosphate, and ethylphosphate expression was unusually increased in the patients. We further examined serial metabolite changes across the initial diagnosis, postremission, and relapse phases. Patients with relapse showed increased metabolite expression compared with those in the diagnostic phase, confirming that patients with AML had aggressively modified leukemic cells. However, a clear difference in metabolite distribution was not observed between the diagnosis and complete remission phases, suggesting that the metabolic microenvironment did not change significantly despite complete remission. Interestingly, metabolite profiles differed with genetic variations in leukemic cells. Our results, which were obtained using paired samples collected during AML progression, provide valuable insights for identifying vulnerable targets in the AML metabolome and developing new treatment strategies.

Association Between Measurable Residual Disease in Patients With Intermediate-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia and First Remission, Treatment, and Outcomes

Importance

Measurable residual disease (MRD) is widely used as a therapy-stratification factor for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but the association of dynamic MRD with postremission treatment (PRT) in patients with intermediate-risk AML (IR-AML) has not been well investigated.

Objective

To investigate PRT choices based on dynamic MRD in patients with IR-AML.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study examined 549 younger patients with de novo IR-AML in the South China Hematology Alliance database during the period from January 1, 2012, to June 30, 2016, including 154 who received chemotherapy, 116 who received an autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT), and 279 who received an allogeneic SCT (allo-SCT). Subgroup analyses were performed according to dynamic MRD after the first, second, and third courses of chemotherapy. The end point of the last follow-up was August 31, 2020. Statistical analysis was performed from December 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020.

Exposures

Receipt of chemotherapy, auto-SCT, or allo-SCT.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end points were 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse and leukemia-free survival.

Results

Subgroup analyses were performed for 549 participants (314 male participants [57.2%]; median age, 37 years [range, 14-60 years]) according to the dynamics of MRD after 1, 2, or 3 courses of chemotherapy. Comparable cumulative incidences of relapse, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival were observed among participants who had no MRD after 1, 2, or 3 courses of chemotherapy. Participants who underwent chemotherapy and those who underwent auto-SCT had better graft-vs-host disease-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) than those who underwent allo-SCT (chemotherapy: hazard ratio [HR], 0.35 [95% CI, 0.14-0.90]; P = .03; auto-SCT: HR, 0.07 [95% CI, 0.01-0.58]; P = .01). Among participants with MRD after 1 course of chemotherapy but no MRD after 2 or 3 courses, those who underwent auto-SCT and allo-SCT showed lower cumulative incidence of relapse (auto-SCT: HR, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.08-0.78]; P = .01; allo-SCT: HR, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.02-0.24]; P < .001), better leukemia-free survival (auto-SCT: HR, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.10-0.64]; P = .004; allo-SCT: HR, 0.21 [95% CI, 0.09-0.46]; P < .001), and overall survival (auto-SCT: HR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.08-0.64]; P = .005; allo-SCT: HR, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.11-0.59]; P = .001) vs chemotherapy. In addition, auto-SCT showed better GRFS than allo-SCT (HR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21-0.98]; P = .04) in this group. Among participants with MRD after 1 or 2 courses of chemotherapy but no MRD after 3 courses, allo-SCT had superior cumulative incidence of relapse (HR, 0.10 [95% CI, 0.06-0.94]; P = .04) and leukemia-free survival (HR, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.05-0.68]; P = .01) compared with chemotherapy, but no advantageous cumulative incidence of relapse (HR, 0.15 [95% CI, 0.02-1.42]; P = .10) and leukemia-free survival (HR, 0.23 [95% CI, 0.05-1.08]; P = .06) compared with auto-SCT. Among participants with MRD after 3 courses of chemotherapy, allo-SCT had superior cumulative incidences of relapse, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival compared with chemotherapy (relapse: HR, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.08-0.33]; P < .001; leukemia-free survival: HR, 0.19 [95% CI, 0.10-0.35]; P < .001; overall survival: HR, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.15-0.55]; P < .001) and auto-SCT (relapse: HR, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.12-0.53]; P < .001; leukemia-free survival: HR, 0.35 [95% CI, 0.18-0.73]; P = .004; overall survival: HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.26-0.94]; P = .04). Among participants with recurrent MRD, allo-SCT was also associated with advantageous cumulative incidence of relapse, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival compared with chemotherapy (relapse: HR, 0.12 [95% CI, 0.04-0.33]; P < .001; leukemia-free survival: HR, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.10-0.56]; P = .001; overall survival: HR, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.13-0.75]; P = .01) and auto-SCT (relapse: HR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.09-0.81]; P = .02; leukemia-free survival: HR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.12-0.76]; P = .01; overall survival: HR, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.10-0.70]; P = .007).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study suggests that clinical decisions based on dynamic MRD might be associated with improved therapy stratification and optimized PRT for patients with IR-AML. Prospective multicenter trials are needed to further validate these findings.

Impact of Time Between Induction Chemotherapy and Complete Remission on Survival Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

BACKGROUND

The majority of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receive intensive induction chemotherapy for obtaining a complete remission (CR). Despite consolidation chemotherapy and advances in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, most of these patients finally relapse and die from AML. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of duration of remission achievement on survival of patients with newly diagnosed AML who achieve CR after induction chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients with AML who received first induction chemotherapy between 2001 and 2018.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival for patients who had early remission after induction chemotherapy and patients who had delayed remission after induction chemotherapy were 83% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.87) and 35% (95% CI, 0.31-0.39), respectively (P < .001). The 5-year disease-free survival for patients who had early remission after induction chemotherapy and patients who had delayed remission after induction chemotherapy were 81% (95% CI, 0.75-0.87) and 28% (95% CI, 0.21-0.35), respectively (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, time to entering CR is a predictor factor of overall survival and disease-free survival for patients with newly diagnosed AML who achieve CR after first induction chemotherapy. Patients achieving CR only after a lengthy time (eg, more than 29 days) should be considered to have high relapse rate and should undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Combination of cytogenetic classification and MRD status correlates with outcome of autologous versus allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults with primary acute myeloid leukemia in first remission

Both autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (auto- and allo-SCT) are treatment choice for adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after complete remission (CR). However, the decision-making remains controversial in some situations. To figure out the treatment choice, we retrospectively investigated 172 consecutive patients with primary AML who received auto- (n=46) or allo-SCT (n=126) from a single transplant center. Auto- and allo-SCT group demonstrated comparable overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.616, P=0.559, respectively). Cytogenetic classification and minimal residual disease (MRD) after one course of consolidation were identified as independent risk factors for DFS (hazard ratio (HR), 1.800; 95% CI, 1.172-2.763; P=0.007; HR, 2.042; 95%CI, 1.003-4.154; P=0.049; respectively). We subsequently found that auto- and allo-SCT offered comparable DFS to patients with favorable or intermediate risk and were tested MRD^neg after one course of consolidation (P=0.270) otherwise auto-SCT were inferior due to increased risk of leukemia relapse. Our study indicated that the combination of cytogenetic classification and MRD monitoring correlated with outcome of auto- versus allo-SCT and might help the choice between the two types of SCT for adults with primary AML, which is of significance for patients with expected intermediate prognosis in the current scenario.

Is the D14 bone marrow in acute myeloid leukemia still the gold standard?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Early bone marrow evaluation on day 14 of induction is common practice assisting in decision making regarding reinduction need in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies exploring day 14 bone marrow false positive and negative rates yielded diverse data, and a highly specific method for early bone marrow evaluation is warranted. Given the improved induction-associated death rate, the risk of redundant reinduction administered to patients anticipating remission with one induction cycle may be outweighed by the benefit from the potential reduction in the falsely interpreted nadir bone marrow. The purpose of this review is to analyze current evidence on ways to optimize early bone marrow evaluation during induction in AML.

RECENT FINDINGS

Day 14 bone marrow blast count is affected by patient's age, leukemic risk, and induction regimen, and its remission prediction power is enhanced if more stringent cutoffs are used to define significant residual blast numbers or if morphologic bone marrow evaluation is performed on day 5 of induction.

SUMMARY

Early bone marrow evaluation has a potential to personalize the induction regimen, but because of limitations of day 14 bone marrow results, earlier bone marrow evaluation or the use of flow cytometry to detect minor blast populations may improve remission prediction in AML.