Combined molecular and clinical prognostic index for relapse and survival in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia

A chest CT-based nomogram for predicting survival in acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND

The identification of survival predictors is crucial for early intervention to improve outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aim to identify chest computed tomography (CT)-derived features to predict prognosis for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODS

952 patients with pathologically-confirmed AML were retrospectively enrolled between 2010 and 2020. CT-derived features (including body composition and subcutaneous fat features), were obtained from the initial chest CT images and were used to build models to predict the prognosis. A CT-derived MSF nomogram was constructed using multivariate Cox regression incorporating CT-based features. The performance of the prediction models was assessed with discrimination, calibration, decision curves and improvements.

RESULTS

Three CT-derived features, including myosarcopenia, spleen_CTV, and SF_CTV (MSF) were identified as the independent predictors for prognosis in AML (P < 0.01). A CT-MSF nomogram showed a performance with AUCs of 0.717, 0.794, 0.796 and 0.792 for predicting the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) probabilities in the validation cohort, which were significantly higher than the ELN risk model. Moreover, a new MSN stratification system (MSF nomogram plus ELN risk model) could stratify patients into new high, intermediate and low risk group. Patients with high MSN risk may benefit from intensive treatment (P = 0.0011).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the chest CT-MSF nomogram, integrating myosarcopenia, spleen_CTV, and SF_CTV features, could be used to predict prognosis of AML.

Genetic mutation signature for relapse prediction in normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia

Risk stratification for normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (NK-AML) remains unsatisfactory, which is reflected by the high incidence of leukemia relapse. This study aimed to evaluate the role of gene mutations and clinical characterization in predicting the relapse of patients with NK-AML. A prognostic system for NK-AML was constructed. A panel of gene mutations was explored using next-generation sequencing. A nomogram algorithm was used to build a genomic mutation signature (GMS) nomogram (GMSN) model that combines GMS, measurable residual disease, and clinical factors to predict relapse in 347 patients with NK-AML from four centers. Patients in the GMS-high group had a higher 5-year incidence of relapse than those in the GMS-low group (p < 0.001). The 5-year incidence of relapse was also higher in patients in the GMSN-high group than in those in the GMSN-intermediate and -low groups (p < 0.001). The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival rates were lower in patients in the GMSN-high group than in those in the GMSN-intermediate and -low groups (p < 0.001) as confirmed by training and validation cohorts. This study illustrates the potential of GMSN as a predictor of NK-AML relapse.

Assessment of 2022 European LeukemiaNet risk classification system in real-world cohort from China

BACKGROUND

The European LeukemiaNet (ELN) risk classification system for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients has been used worldwide. In 2022, the ELN risk classification system modified risk genes including CEBPA mutation status, myelodysplasia-related (MR) gene mutations and internal tandem duplications of FLT3 (FLT3-ITD).

METHODS

We include newly diagnosed de novo AML patients at our center from January 2017 to December 2021, regardless of the further treatment received. Clinical data and date of survival were included. Survival analysis were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival between different risk groups.

RESULTS

We include 363 newly diagnosed de novo AML patients from 2017 to 2021 to assess the accuracy of the ELN risk classification system. Their survival results show that the ELN-2022 risk classification system is not superior to the ELN-2017 version; for patients with FLT3-ITD mutations but without FLT3 inhibitor treatment, their survival is similar to the ELN-2022 adverse risk group. The ELN-2022 risk classification system cannot accurately clarify ECOG performance status (PS) 2-4 patients, especially in the ELN-2022 favorable risk group.

CONCLUSION

The ELN-2022 risk stratification system may not be appropriate for patients unable to receive intensive therapy or FLT3 inhibitor; more real-world data is needed to straify patients with worse ECOG PS and inferior intensive therapy.

Modern Risk Stratification of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2023: Integrating Established and Emerging Prognostic Factors

An accurate estimation of AML prognosis is complex since it depends on patient-related factors, AML manifestations at diagnosis, and disease genetics. Furthermore, the depth of response, evaluated using the level of MRD, has been established as a strong prognostic factor in several AML subgroups. In recent years, this rapidly evolving field has made the prognostic evaluation of AML more challenging. Traditional prognostic factors, established in cohorts of patients treated with standard intensive chemotherapy, are becoming less accurate as new effective therapies are emerging. The widespread availability of next-generation sequencing platforms has improved our knowledge of AML biology and, consequently, the recent ELN 2022 recommendations significantly expanded the role of new gene mutations. However, the impact of rare co-mutational patterns remains to be fully disclosed, and large international consortia such as the HARMONY project will hopefully be instrumental to this aim. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests that clonal architecture plays a significant prognostic role. The integration of clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular factors is essential, but hierarchical methods are reaching their limit. Thus, innovative approaches are being extensively explored, including those based on "knowledge banks". Indeed, more robust prognostic estimations can be obtained by matching each patient's genomic and clinical data with the ones derived from very large cohorts, but further improvements are needed.

Validation and refinement of the 2022 European LeukemiaNet genetic risk stratification of acute myeloid leukemia

The revised 2022 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) AML risk stratification system requires validation in large, homogeneously treated cohorts. We studied 1118 newly diagnosed AML patients (median age, 58 years; range, 18-86 years) who received cytarabine-based induction chemotherapy between 1999 and 2012 and compared ELN-2022 to the previous ELN-2017 risk classification. Key findings were validated in a cohort of 1160 mostly younger patients. ELN-2022 reclassified 15% of patients, 3% into more favorable, and 12% into more adverse risk groups. This was mainly driven by patients reclassified from intermediate- to adverse-risk based on additional myelodysplasia-related mutations being included as adverse-risk markers. These patients (n = 79) had significantly better outcomes than patients with other adverse-risk genotypes (5-year OS, 26% vs. 12%) and resembled the remaining intermediate-risk group. Overall, time-dependent ROC curves and Harrel's C-index controlling for age, sex, and AML type (de novo vs. sAML/tAML) show slightly worse prognostic discrimination of ELN-2022 compared to ELN-2017 for OS. Further refinement of ELN-2022 without including additional genetic markers is possible, in particular by recognizing TP53-mutated patients with complex karyotypes as "very adverse". In summary, the ELN-2022 risk classification identifies a larger group of adverse-risk patients at the cost of slightly reduced prognostic accuracy compared to ELN-2017.

Spermatogenesis associated serine rich 2 like plays a prognostic factor and therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia by regulating the JAK2/STAT3/STAT5 axis

BACKGROUND

Spermatogenesis associated serine rich 2 like (SPATS2L) was highly expressed in homoharringtonine (HHT) resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines. However, its role is little known in AML. The present study aimed to investigate the function of SPATS2L in AML pathogenesis and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), relapse-free survival (RFS) were used to evaluate the prognostic impact of SPATS2L for AML from TCGA database and ourcohort. ShRNA was used to knockdown the expression of SPATS2L. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. The changes of proteins were assessed by Western blot(WB). A xenotransplantation mice model was used to evaluate in vivo growth and survival. RNA sequencing was performed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of SPATS2L in AML.

RESULTS

SPATS2L expression increased with increasing resistance indexes(RI) in HHT-resistant cell lines we had constructed. Higher SPATS2L expression was observed in intermediate/high-risk patients than in favorable patients. Meanwhile, decreased SPATS2L expression was observed in AML patients achieving complete remission (CR). Multivariate analysis showed high SPATS2L expression was an independent poor predictor of OS, EFS, RFS in AML. SPATS2L knock down (KD) suppressed cell growth, induced apoptosis, and suppressed key proteins of JAK/STAT pathway, such as JAK2, STAT3, STAT5 in AML cells. Inhibiting SPATS2L expression markedly enhanced the pro-apoptotic effects of traditional chemotherapeutics (Ara-c, IDA, and HHT).

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of SPATS2L is a poor prognostic factor in AML, and targeting SPATS2L may be a promising therapeutic strategy for AML patients.

Prognostic relevance of NPM1, CEBPA, and FLT3 mutations in cytogenetically normal adult AML patients

BACKGROUND

Acute myeloid leukemia with normal cytogenetics (CN-AML) is the largest group of AML patients with very heterogenous patient outcomes. The revised World Health Organization classification of the hematolymphoid tumours, 2022, has incorporated AML with Nucleophosphmin1 (NPM1) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha (CEBPA) mutations as distinct entities. Despite the existing evidence of the prognostic relevance of FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) in AML, it has not been included in the revised classification.

METHOD

In this prospective study, we determined the prevalence of NPM1, CEBPA, and FLT3 gene mutations in 151 de novo CN-AML adult patients (age ≥18 years) in a tertiary care hospital in north India. Additionally, the prognostic relevance of these mutations was also evaluated.

RESULTS

NPM1, FLT3-ITD, and CEBPA mutations were found in 33.11%, 23.84%, and 15.77% of CN-AML patients, respectively. CEBPA mutations were found at 3 domains: transactivation domain 1 (TAD1) in 10 (6.62%), transactivation domain 2 (TAD2) in 5 (3.31%), and basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP) in 11 (7.82%) patients. Patients with NPM1 mutation had better clinical remission rate (CR) (P=0.003), event-free survival (P=0.0014), and overall survival (OS) (P=0.0017). However, FLT3-ITD and CEBPA mutations did not show any association with CR (P=0.404 and 0.92, respectively). Biallelic CEBPA mutations were found in 12 (7.95%) patients and were associated with better OS (P=0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that NPM1 and CEBPA mutations can be precisely used for risk stratification in CN-AML patients.

Genetic changes in refractory relapsed acute myeloid leukemia with NPM1 mutation: A case report

BACKGROUND

Acute myeloid leukemia is often associated with gene mutation or chromosome abnormality, which is an important factor affecting prognosis. The 5-year survival rate of patients with acute myeloid leukemia without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is low. For patients who only received chemotherapy and whose first remission lasted > 5 years, there are few reports of gene spectrum changes between relapse and initial diagnosis.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 41-year-old woman who presented to our hospital with complaints of dizziness, poor appetite and wasting. She was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4b) with NPM1 mutation and only received chemotherapy. Her first remission lasted > 5 years. New genetic variants were detected upon relapse that may have been related to relapse and chemotherapy resistance.

CONCLUSION

Mutations in WT1 (R394fs/A387fs)/PTPN11 T73I/ETV6 S350P and JAK2 W659R may be related to relapse and chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia.

Molecular profiling of patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia and hyperleukocytosis

BACKGROUND

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with initial hyperleukocytosis is associated with high early mortality and a poor prognosis. The aims of this study were to delineate the underlying molecular landscape in the largest cytogenetic risk group, cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML), and to assess the prognostic relevance of recurrent mutations in the context of hyperleukocytosis and clinical risk factors.

METHODS

The authors performed a targeted sequencing of 49 recurrently mutated genes in 56 patients with newly diagnosed CN-AML and initial hyperleukocytosis of ≥100 G/L treated in the AMLCG99 study. The median number of mutated genes per patient was 5. The most common mutations occurred in FLT3 (73%), NPM1 (75%), and TET2 (45%).

RESULTS

The predominant pathways affected by mutations were signaling (84% of patients), epigenetic modifiers (75% of patients), and nuclear transport (NPM1; 75%) of patients. AML with hyperleukocytosis was enriched for molecular subtypes that negatively affected the prognosis, including a high percentage of patients presenting with co-occurring mutations in signaling and epigenetic modifiers such as FLT3 internal tandem duplications and TET2 mutations.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite these unique molecular features, clinical risk factors, including high white blood count, hemoglobin level, and lactate dehydrogenase level at baseline, remained the predictors for overall survival and relapse-free survival in hyperleukocytotic CN-AML.

The present and future of measurable residual disease testing in acute myeloid leukemia

Considerable progress has been made in the past several years in the scientific understanding of, and available treatments for, acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Achievement of a conventional remission, evaluated cytomorphologically via small bone marrow samples, is a necessary but not sufficient step toward cure. It is increasingly appreciated that molecular or immunophenotypic methods to identify and quantify measurable residual disease (MRD) - populations of leukemia cells below the cytomorphological detection limit - provide refined information on the quality of response to treatment and prediction of the risk of AML recurrence and leukemia-related deaths. The principles and practices surrounding MRD remain incompletely determined however and the genetic and immunophenotypic heterogeneity of AML may prevent a one-sizefits- all approach. Here, we review the current approaches to MRD testing in AML, discuss strengths and limitations, highlight recent technological advances that may improve such testing, and summarize ongoing initiatives to generate the clinical evidence needed to advance the use of MRD testing in patients with AML.

Serum proteomics screening intercellular adhesion molecule-2 improves intermediate-risk stratification in acute myeloid leukemia

Background

The clinical risk classification of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is largely based on cytogenetic and molecular genetic detection. However, the optimal treatment for intermediate-risk AML patients remains uncertain. Further refinement and improvement of prognostic stratification are therefore necessary.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify serum protein biomarkers to refine risk stratification in AML patients.

Design

This study is a retrospective study.

Methods

Label-free proteomics was used to identify the differential abundance of serum proteins in AML patients. Transcriptomic data were combined to identify key altered markers that could indicate the risk rank of AML patients. The survival status was assessed by Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

Results

We delineated serum protein expression in a population of AML patients. Many biological processes were influenced by the identified differentially expressed proteins. Association analysis of transcriptome data showed that intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM2) had a higher survival prediction value in the intermediate-risk AML group. ICAM2 was detrimental for intermediate-risk AML, regardless of whether patients received bone marrow transplantation. ICAM2 well distinguishes the intermediate group of patients, whose probability of survival is comparable to that of patients with the ELN-2017 according to the reference classification. In addition, newly established stratified clinical features were associated with leukemia stem cell scores.

Conclusion

The inclusion of ICAM2 expression into the AML risk classification according to ELN-2017 was a good way to transfer patients from three to two groups. Thus, providing more information for clinical decision-making to improve intermediate-risk stratification in AML patients.

Molecular Measurable Residual Disease Assessment before Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients: A Retrospective Study by the I-BFM Study Group

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative post-remission treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but relapse after transplant is still a challenging event. In recent year, several studies have investigated the molecular minimal residual disease (qPCR-MRD) as a predictor of relapse, but the lack of standardized protocols, cut-offs, and timepoints, especially in the pediatric setting, has prevented its use in several settings, including before HSCT. Here, we propose the first collaborative retrospective I-BFM-AML study assessing qPCR-MRD values in pretransplant bone marrow samples of 112 patients with a diagnosis of AML harboring t(8;21)(q22; q22)RUNX1::RUNX1T1, or inv(16)(p13q22)CBFB::MYH11, or t(9;11)(p21;q23)KMT2A::MLLT3, or FLT3-ITD genetic markers. We calculated an ROC cut-off of 2.1 × 10⁻⁴ that revealed significantly increased OS (83.7% versus 57.1%) and EFS (80.2% versus 52.9%) for those patients with lower qPCR-MRD values. Then, we partitioned patients into three qPCR-MRD groups by combining two different thresholds, 2.1 × 10⁻⁴ and one lower cut-off of 1 × 10⁻², and stratified patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. We found that the 5-year OS (83.7%, 68.6%, and 39.2%, respectively) and relapse-free survival (89.2%, 73.9%, and 67.9%, respectively) were significantly different independent of the genetic lesion, conditioning regimen, donor, and stem cell source. These data support the PCR-based approach playing a clinical relevance in AML transplant management.

Validation of AML-score in Older Adults Receiving CPX-351 Intensive Induction Chemotherapy for Treatment of Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

The AML-Score has been validated in patients receiving traditional induction chemotherapies but not CPX-351. We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate, among patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia who received intensive induction with CPX-351, if the AML-Score associates with (1) complete remission (CR) and (2) early mortality (EM) within 60 days of induction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We abstracted demographic and clinical data from consecutive patients receiving CPX-351 at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital between September 2017 and November 2020. We used descriptive statistics and receiver operating curves to evaluate the relationship between AML-Score and rates of CR and EM.

RESULTS

In total, 40 patients were included. 27 (67.5%) were male, 27 (67.5%) were white, 36 (90.0%) were not Hispanic or Latino, and 29 (72.5%) were aged ≥60 years. Twenty-seven patients (67.5%) had a CR, and 4 (10%) experienced EM. Observed rates of CR and EM generally increased with increasing predicted risk. The area under the curve was 0.75 (95% CI 0.60-0.90) for CR and 0.82 (95% CI 0.68-0.96) for EM.

CONCLUSION

The AML-Score tool trends in the correct direction for predicting CR and EM, and thus may facilitate oncologist prognostication and treatment planning for patients receiving CPX-351. However, its clinical utility is limited by its underestimation of the risk of CR and overestimation of the risk of EM. Further validation in a larger cohort is needed to calculate accurate point estimates of CR and EM risk in this population.

TERT genetic variability and telomere length as factors affecting survival and risk in acute myeloid leukaemia

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a neoplasm of immature myeloid cells characterized by various cytogenetic alterations. The present study showed that in addition to the FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutation status, telomere length (TL) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene polymorphisms may affect risk and overall survival (OS) in AML. TL was longer in healthy controls than in AML patients and positively correlated with age in the patients, but not in healthy subjects. TL was found to be independently affected by the presence of the FLT3-ITD mutation. As for the TERT gene polymorphism, AML patients with the TERT rs2853669 CC genotype were characterized by significantly shorter OS than patients carrying the T allele. Another observation in our study is the difference in TL and OS in patients belonging to various risk stratification groups related to the FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutation status. Patients with adverse risk classification (mutation in FLT3-ITD and lack of mutation in NPM1) presented with the shortest telomeres and significantly worse OS. In conclusion, OS of AML patients appears to be affected by TERT gene variability and TL in addition to other well-established factors such as age, WBC count, or FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutation status.

A clinically applicable gene expression-based score predicts resistance to induction treatment in acute myeloid leukemia

Prediction of resistant disease at initial diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be achieved with high accuracy using cytogenetic data and 29 gene expression markers (Predictive Score 29 Medical Research Council; PS29MRC). Our aim was to establish PS29MRC as a clinically usable assay by using the widely implemented NanoString platform and further validate the classifier in a more recently treated patient cohort. Analyses were performed on 351 patients with newly diagnosed AML intensively treated within the German AML Cooperative Group registry. As a continuous variable, PS29MRC performed best in predicting induction failure in comparison with previously published risk models. The classifier was strongly associated with overall survival. We were able to establish a previously defined cutoff that allows classifier dichotomization (PS29MRCdic). PS29MRCdic significantly identified induction failure with 59% sensitivity, 77% specificity, and 72% overall accuracy (odds ratio, 4.81; P = 4.15 × 10-10). PS29MRCdic was able to improve the European Leukemia Network 2017 (ELN-2017) risk classification within every category. The median overall survival with high PS29MRCdic was 1.8 years compared with 4.3 years for low-risk patients. In multivariate analysis including ELN-2017 and clinical and genetic markers, only age and PS29MRCdic were independent predictors of refractory disease. In patients aged ≥60 years, only PS29MRCdic remained as a significant variable. In summary, we confirmed PS29MRC as a valuable classifier to identify high-risk patients with AML. Risk classification can still be refined beyond ELN-2017, and predictive classifiers might facilitate clinical trials focusing on these high-risk patients with AML.

Genetic identification of patients with AML older than 60 years achieving long-term survival with intensive chemotherapy

To design a simple and reproducible classifier predicting the overall survival (OS) of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ≥60 years of age treated with 7 + 3, we sequenced 37 genes in 471 patients from the ALFA1200 (Acute Leukemia French Association) study (median age, 68 years). Mutation patterns and OS differed between the 84 patients with poor-risk cytogenetics and the 387 patients with good (n = 13), intermediate (n = 339), or unmeasured (n = 35) cytogenetic risk. TP53 (hazards ratio [HR], 2.49; P = .0003) and KRAS (HR, 3.60; P = .001) mutations independently worsened the OS of patients with poor-risk cytogenetics. In those without poor-risk cytogenetics, NPM1 (HR, 0.57; P = .0004), FLT3 internal tandem duplications with low (HR, 1.85; P = .0005) or high (HR, 3.51; P < 10-4) allelic ratio, DNMT3A (HR, 1.86; P < 10-4), NRAS (HR, 1.54; P = .019), and ASXL1 (HR, 1.89; P = .0003) mutations independently predicted OS. Combining cytogenetic risk and mutations in these 7 genes, 39.1% of patients could be assigned to a "go-go" tier with a 2-year OS of 66.1%, 7.6% to the "no-go" group (2-year OS 2.8%), and 3.3% of to the "slow-go" group (2-year OS of 39.1%; P < 10-5). Across 3 independent validation cohorts, 31.2% to 37.7% and 11.2% to 13.5% of patients were assigned to the go-go and the no-go tiers, respectively, with significant differences in OS between tiers in all 3 trial cohorts (HDF [Hauts-de-France], n = 141, P = .003; and SAL [Study Alliance Leukemia], n = 46; AMLSG [AML Study Group], n = 223, both P < 10-5). The ALFA decision tool is a simple, robust, and discriminant prognostic model for AML patients ≥60 years of age treated with intensive chemotherapy. This model can instruct the design of trials comparing the 7 + 3 standard of care with less intensive regimens.

Preleukemic and leukemic evolution at the stem cell level

Hematological malignancies are an aggregate of diverse populations of cells that arise following a complex process of clonal evolution and selection. Recent approaches have facilitated the study of clonal populations and their evolution over time across multiple phenotypic cell populations. In this review, we present current concepts on the role of clonal evolution in leukemic initiation, disease progression, and relapse. We highlight recent advances and unanswered questions about the contribution of the hematopoietic stem cell population to these processes.

A clinical prediction model identifies a subgroup with inferior survival within intermediate risk acute myeloid leukemia

Intermediate risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises around 50% of AML patients and is featured with heterogeneous clinical outcomes. The study aimed to generate a prediction model to identify intermediate risk AML patients with an inferior survival. We performed targeted next generation sequencing analysis for 121 patients with 2017 European LeukemiaNet-defined intermediate risk AML, revealing 122 mutated genes, with 24 genes mutated in > 10% of patients. A prognostic nomogram characterized by white blood cell count ≥10×10⁹/L at diagnosis, mutated DNMT3A and genes involved in signaling pathways was developed for 110 patients who were with clinical outcomes. Two subgroups were identified: intermediate low risk (ILR; 43.6%, 48/110) and intermediate high risk (IHR; 56.4%, 62/110). The model was prognostic of overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (OS: Concordance index [C-index]: 0.703, 95%CI: 0.643-0.763; RFS: C-index: 0.681, 95%CI 0.620-0.741), and was successfully validated with two independent cohorts. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) reduced the relapse risk of IHR patients (3-year RFS: alloHSCT: 40.0±12.8% vs. chemotherapy: 8.6±5.8%, P= 0.010). The prediction model can help identify patients with an unfavorable prognosis and refine risk-adapted therapy for intermediate risk AML patients.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Historical Perspective and Progress in Research and Therapy Over 5 Decades

With the Food and Drug Administration approval of 9 agents for different acute myeloid leukemia (AML) indications, the prognosis and management of AML is evolving rapidly. Herein, we review the important milestones in the history of AML research and therapy, discuss insights regarding prognostic assessment and prediction of treatment outcome, detail practical supportive care measures, and summarize the current treatment landscape and areas of evolving research.

Impact of age, functional status, and comorbidities on quality of life and outcomes in elderly patients with AML: review

The incidence of acute myeloid leukemia increases with age, and more than half of AML patients are over 60 years old. Treating elderly AML patients presents several challenges and uncertainties, linked partly to disease characteristics and partly to the difficulty of establishing which patients could benefit from the best treatment. Although some elderly fit patients can receive intensive therapy, many of them are not treated and not enrolled in clinical trials. Yet supportive care is associated with significantly lower survival rates compared to intensive therapy or lower intensive therapy. A poorer prognosis in elderly patients is related to age, functional status, and comorbidities, combined with leukemia characteristics. Chronological age is not the best surrogate factor for selecting patients eligible for intensive chemotherapy. Scoring systems-including patient characteristics (ECOG, comorbidities) and disease characteristics (cytogenetics and molecular parameters)-designed to evaluate probabilities of response to treatment, morbidity, and survival may be used to balance the risk-benefit ratio for intensive therapy. A geriatric assessment (GA) to evaluate physical function, comorbidities, nutritional status, cognitive function, and social support could help identify the most vulnerable patients so that they can receive intensive therapy. A GA would also help take the necessary steps to improve tolerance to treatment. Evaluating markers of fitness and quality of life as part of clinical trials should be favored.

Acute myeloid leukemia: Treatment and research outlook for 2021 and the MD Anderson approach

The unraveling of the pathophysiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has resulted in rapid translation of the information into clinical practice. After more than 40 years of slow progress in AML research, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved nine agents for different AML treatment indications since 2017. In this review, we detail the progress that has been made in the research and treatment of AML, citing key publications related to AML research and therapy in the English literature since 2000. The notable subsets of AML include acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), core-binding factor AML (CBF-AML), AML in younger patients fit for intensive chemotherapy, and AML in older/unfit patients (usually at the age cutoff of 60-70 years). We also consider within each subset whether the AML is primary or secondary (therapy-related, evolving from untreated or treated myelodysplastic syndrome or myeloproliferative neoplasm). In APL, therapy with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide results in estimated 10-year survival rates of ≥80%. Treatment of CBF-AML with fludarabine, high-dose cytarabine, and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) results in estimated 10-year survival rates of ≥75%. In younger/fit patients, the "3+7" regimen (3 days of daunorubicin + 7 days of cytarabine) produces less favorable results (estimated 5-year survival rates of 35%; worse in real-world experience); regimens that incorporate high-dose cytarabine, adenosine nucleoside analogs, and GO are producing better results. Adding venetoclax, FLT3, and IDH inhibitors into these regimens has resulted in encouraging preliminary data. In older/unfit patients, low-intensity therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) and venetoclax is now the new standard of care. Better low-intensity regimens incorporating cladribine, low-dose cytarabine, and other targeted therapies (FLT3 and IDH inhibitors) are emerging. Maintenance therapy now has a definite role in the treatment of AML, and oral HMAs with potential treatment benefits are also available. In conclusion, AML therapy is evolving rapidly and treatment results are improving in all AML subsets as novel agents and strategies are incorporated into traditional AML chemotherapy. LAY SUMMARY: Ongoing research in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is progressing rapidly. Since 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved 10 drugs for different AML indications. This review updates the research and treatment pathways for AML.

Acute myeloid leukemia: current progress and future directions

Progress in the understanding of the biology and therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is occurring rapidly. Since 2017, nine agents have been approved for various indications in AML. These included several targeted therapies like venetoclax, FLT3 inhibitors, IDH inhibitors, and others. The management of AML is complicated, highlighting the need for expertise in order to deliver optimal therapy and achieve optimal outcomes. The multiple subentities in AML require very different therapies. In this review, we summarize the important pathophysiologies driving AML, review current therapies in standard practice, and address present and future research directions.

Development and validation of a prognostic model for adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia

Background

The high heterogeneity of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) reflected in the patient- and disease-related factors accounts for the unsatisfactory prognosis despite the introduction of novel therapeutic approaches and drugs in recent years.

Methods

In the development set (n = 412), parameters including age, hematopoietic cell transplantation-comorbidity index, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, biallelic CEBPA mutations, DNMT3A mutations, FLT3-ITD/NPM1 status, and ELN cytogenetic risk status were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in the multivariable Cox regression analysis. A nomogram combining these predictors for individual risk estimation was established thereby.

Findings

The prognostic model demonstrated promising performance in the development cohort. The calibration plot, C-index (0.74), along with the 1-, 2- and 3-year area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC, 0.76, 0.79, and 0.74, respectively) in the validation set (n = 238) substantiated the robustness of the model. In addition to stratifying young (age ≤ 60 years) and elderly patients (age > 60 years) into three and two risk groups with significant distinct outcomes, the prognostic model succeeded in distinguishing eligible candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Interpretation

The prognostic model is capable of survival prediction, risk stratification and helping with therapeutic decision-making with the use of easily acquired variables in daily clinical routine.

Funding

This work was supported in part by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81770141), the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFE0202800), and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission-Gaofeng Clinical Medicine Grant Support (20161406).

Integrating clinical features with genetic factors enhances survival prediction for adults with acute myeloid leukemia

The 2017 European LeukemiaNet 2017 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) risk stratification (ELN2017) is widely used for risk-stratifying patients with AML. However, its applicability in low- and middle-income countries is limited because of a lack of full cytogenetic and molecular information at diagnosis. Here, we propose an alternative for risk stratification (the Adapted Genetic Risk [AGR]), which permits cytogenetic or molecular missing data while retaining prognostic power. We first analyzed 167 intensively treated patients with nonacute promyelocytic leukemia AML enrolled in São Paulo, Brazil (Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo), as our training data set, using ELN2017 as the standard for comparison with our AGR. Next, we combined our AGR with clinical prognostic parameters found in a Cox proportional hazards model to create a novel scoring system (survival AML score, SAMLS) that stratifies patients with newly diagnosed AML. Finally, we have used 2 independent test cohorts, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP; Brazil, n = 145) and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH; United Kingdom, n = 157) for validating our findings. AGR was statistically significant for overall survival (OS) in both test cohorts (FMRP, P = .037; OUH, P = .012) and disease-free survival in FMRP (P = .04). The clinical prognostic features in SAMLS were age (>45 years), white blood cell count (<1.5 or >30.0 × 103/μL), and low albumin levels (<3.8 g/dL), which were associated with worse OS in all 3 cohorts. SAMLS showed a significant difference in OS in the training cohort (P < .001) and test cohorts (FMRP, P = .0018; OUH, P < .001). Therefore, SAMLS, which incorporates the novel AGR evaluation with clinical parameters, is an accurate tool for AML risk assessment.

The Survival of Patients with t(15;17)(q22;q12) Positive Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: A Study in North-East of Iran

Background & Objective

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with t(15;17)(q22;q12) is a relatively common subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, our objective was to ascertain the survival of patients with this leukemia in north-east of Iran.

Methods

Survival rates of 42 APL patients with t(15;17)(q22;q12) were assessed. Clinical information was obtained from archived medical records. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 18 software using log-ranked test and Kaplan Maier survival analysis.

Results

Females and males comprised 49% and 51%, respectively. The mean age at diagnosis was 34.3 ± 14.1 years old. During the study period, 17 demises occurred in males, while this number was 7 in females. The mean survival of patients (month) was 23.22 ± 3.57 (95% CI: 16.21 ± 30.2). The five-year survival rate obtained 30%. Regarding demographic and clinical features, the highest rates of 5-year survival were recorded in patients with 20-35 years old (47.6%), males (51%), white blood cell count <10 × 10 9 /l (48%), and platelet count >140 × 10 9 /l (100%).

Conclusion

Younger age, lower WBC count and higher platelet count were significantly associated with longer survival in AML patients with t(15;17)(q22; q12).

Validation and refinement of the revised 2017 European LeukemiaNet genetic risk stratification of acute myeloid leukemia

The revised 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations for genetic risk stratification of acute myeloid leukemia have been widely adopted, but have not yet been validated in large cohorts of AML patients. We studied 1116 newly diagnosed AML patients (age range, 18–86 years) who had received induction chemotherapy. Among 771 patients not selected by genetics, the ELN-2017 classification re-assigned 26.5% of patients into a more favorable or, more commonly, a more adverse-risk group compared with the ELN-2010 recommendations. Forty percent of the cohort, and 51% of patients ≥60 years, were classified as adverse-risk by ELN-2017. In 599 patients <60 years, estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) was 64% for ELN-2017 favorable, 42% for intermediate-risk and 20% for adverse-risk patients. Among 517 patients aged ≥60 years, corresponding 5-year OS rates were 37, 16, and 6%. Patients with biallelic CEBPA mutations or inv(16) had particularly favorable outcomes, while patients with mutated TP53 and a complex karyotype had especially poor prognosis. DNMT3A mutations associated with inferior OS within each ELN-2017 risk group. Our results validate the prognostic significance of the revised ELN-2017 risk classification in AML patients receiving induction chemotherapy across a broad age range. Further refinement of the ELN-2017 risk classification is possible.

The risk of early mortality in elderly patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common hematologic neoplasm with high incidence and mortality in the elderly. Our aims were to explore risk factors for early mortality in elderly AML patients and develop a new prognostic score.

Methods

We enrolled newly diagnosed AML patients age 60 and above at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between July 2008 and May 2017. The primary endpoint was early mortality, defined as death within two months after AML diagnosis. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to build a risk‐scoring system incorporating significant risk factors for AML.

Results

The final cohort included 277 elderly AML patients. The median age was 74 (range 60‐96), and 61.7% were male. The two‐month mortality rate was 29.9%. Age ≥ 80 (adjusted HR 1.88), myocardial infarction (adjusted HR 1.87), ECOG ≥ 2 (adjusted HR 2.10), complex karyotype (adjusted HR 3.21), bone marrow blasts ≥ 70% (adjusted HR 1.88), WBC ≥ 100 × 10⁹/L (adjusted HR 3.31), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 45 (adjusted HR 2.60) were identified as independent predictors for early mortality in the multivariate analysis. A simplified score incorporating the seven factors was developed with good predictive ability measured by Harrell's C statistic [0.72 (95% CI 0.66‐0.78)].

Conclusions

We identified seven potential risk factors for early mortality and built up a new prognostic score for elderly AML patients. The new score may help clinicians stratify patients and initiate appropriate management. Further validation of our findings on other cohorts is warranted.

Comprehensive prognostic scoring systems could improve the prognosis of adult acute myeloid leukemia patients

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous malignancy characterized by a dismal outcome. To enable better outcomes, it is necessary to develop individual therapies based on risk stratification. In the present study, we established two new comprehensive prognostic scoring systems (CPSS) for overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) using the Cox proportional hazards regression, CPSS integrated and weighted age, AML type, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), ECOG score, cytogenetics, and gene mutations. We divided patients into three risk groups-low-, intermediate-, and high-risk-with 1-year OS rates of 100.0%, 82.9%, and 38.2%, respectively (p < 0.0001), and patients undergoing complete remission (CR) were also separated into low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups, with 1-year RFS rates of 87.7%, 58.4%, and 30.2%, respectively (p < 0.0001). We conclude that CPSS that integrate clinical characteristics, cytogenetic abnormalities, and gene mutations may improve the stratification of AML patients.

Intelligent whole-blood imaging flow cytometry for simple, rapid, and cost-effective drug-susceptibility testing of leukemia

Drug susceptibility (also called chemosensitivity) is an important criterion for developing a therapeutic strategy for various cancer types such as breast cancer and leukemia. Recently, functional assays such as high-content screening together with genomic analysis have been shown to be effective for predicting drug susceptibility, but their clinical applicability is poor since they are time-consuming (several days long), labor-intensive, and costly. Here we present a highly simple, rapid, and cost-effective liquid biopsy for ex vivo drug-susceptibility testing of leukemia. The method is based on an extreme-throughput (>1 million cells per second), label-free, whole-blood imaging flow cytometer with a deep convolutional autoencoder, enabling image-based identification of the drug susceptibility of every single white blood cell in whole blood within 24 hours by simply flowing a drug-treated whole blood sample as little as 500 μL into the imaging flow cytometer without labeling. Our results show that the method accurately evaluates the drug susceptibility of white blood cells from untreated patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Our method holds promise for affordable precision medicine.

Combining gene mutation with gene expression analysis improves outcome prediction in acute promyelocytic leukemia

By combining the analysis of mutations with aberrant expression of genes previously related to poorer prognosis in both acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and acute myeloid leukemia, we arrived at an integrative score in APL (ISAPL) and demonstrated its relationship with clinical outcomes of patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Based on fms-like tyrosine kinase-3-internal tandem duplication mutational status; the ΔNp73/TAp73 expression ratio; and ID1, BAALC, ERG, and KMT2E gene expression levels, we modeled ISAPL in 159 patients (median ISAPL score, 3; range, 0-10). ISAPL modeling identified 2 distinct groups of patients, with significant differences in early mortality (P < .001), remission (P = .004), overall survival (P < .001), cumulative incidence of relapse (P = .028), disease-free survival (P = .03), and event-free survival (P < .001). These data were internally validated by using a bootstrap resampling procedure. At least for patients treated with ATRA and anthracycline-based chemotherapy, ISAPL modeling may identify those who need to be treated differently to maximize their chances for a cure.

Next Generation Sequencing in AML-On the Way to Becoming a New Standard for Treatment Initiation and/or Modulation?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal disease caused by genetic abberations occurring predominantly in the elderly. Next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis has led to a deeper genetic understanding of the pathogenesis and the role of recently discovered genetic precursor lesions (clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate/oncogenic potential (CHIP/CHOP)) in the evolution of AML. These advances are reflected by the inclusion of certain mutations in the updated World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 classification and current treatment guidelines by the European Leukemia Net (ELN) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and results of mutational testing are already influencing the choice and timing of (targeted) treatment. Genetic profiling and stratification of patients into molecularly defined subgroups are expected to gain ever more weight in daily clinical practice. Our aim is to provide a concise summary of current evidence regarding the relevance of NGS for the diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment planning and response assessment in AML, including minimal residual disease (MRD) guided approaches. We also summarize recently approved drugs targeting genetically defined patient populations with risk adapted- and individualized treatment strategies.

Priority-Lasso: a simple hierarchical approach to the prediction of clinical outcome using multi-omics data

BACKGROUND

The inclusion of high-dimensional omics data in prediction models has become a well-studied topic in the last decades. Although most of these methods do not account for possibly different types of variables in the set of covariates available in the same dataset, there are many such scenarios where the variables can be structured in blocks of different types, e.g., clinical, transcriptomic, and methylation data. To date, there exist a few computationally intensive approaches that make use of block structures of this kind.

RESULTS

In this paper we present priority-Lasso, an intuitive and practical analysis strategy for building prediction models based on Lasso that takes such block structures into account. It requires the definition of a priority order of blocks of data. Lasso models are calculated successively for every block and the fitted values of every step are included as an offset in the fit of the next step. We apply priority-Lasso in different settings on an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) dataset consisting of clinical variables, cytogenetics, gene mutations and expression variables, and compare its performance on an independent validation dataset to the performance of standard Lasso models.

CONCLUSION

The results show that priority-Lasso is able to keep pace with Lasso in terms of prediction accuracy. Variables of blocks with higher priorities are favored over variables of blocks with lower priority, which results in easily usable and transportable models for clinical practice.

Influence of UGT1A1 polymorphisms on the outcome of acute myeloid leukemia patients treated with cytarabine-base regimens

BACKGROUNDS

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A subfamily (UGT1A) enzymes can inactivate cytarabine (Ara-C) by glucuronidation, and thus serves as candidate genes for interindividual difference in Ara-C response. UGT1A1 is a major UGT1A isoform expressed in human liver.

METHODS

UGT1A1*6 and *28 polymorphisms resulting in reduced UGT1A1 activity were genotyped in 726 adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with Ara-C based regimens. Influences of both polymorphisms on chemosensitivity and disease prognosis of the patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

After one or two courses of Ara-C based induction chemotherapy, the complete remission (CR) rate was significantly higher in patients carrying the UGT1A1*6 (77.0%) or the UGT1A1*28 (76.4%) alleles as compared with corresponding wild-type homozygotes (66.9 and 68.5%, respectively). Carriers of the UGT1A1*6 or *28 alleles showed significantly decreased risk of non-CR (OR = 0.528, 95% CI 0.379-0.737, P = 1.7 × 10^-4) and better overall survival (HR = 0.787, 95% CI 0.627-0.990, P = 0.040) as compared with homozygotes for both polymorphisms.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 are associated with improved clinical outcomes in Chinese AML patients treated with Ara-C.

Advancements in the management of medically less-fit and older adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

INTRODUCTION

Treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in older adults remains daunting. The unique biology often renders conventional chemotherapies less effective. Accurately predicting the toxicities of treatment is another unresolved challenge. Treatment planning thus requires a good knowledge of the current trial data and familiarity with clinical tools, including formal fitness and geriatric assessments. Both obstacles - disease biology and patient fitness - might be easier overcome with specific, AML cell-targeted agents rather than traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. This may be the future of AML therapy, but it is not our current state.

AREAS COVERED

Herein, the authors appraise the data supporting a standard induction approach, including an outline of how to predict treatment-related mortality and a review of the most up-to-date methods of geriatric assessment. They also discuss treatment expectations with less-intense therapies and highlight novel agents in development. Finally, they provide a basic approach to choosing treatment intensity.

EXPERT OPINION

In an older and/or medically less-fit patient, treatment choice should begin with a thorough disease assessment, a formal evaluation of patient fitness and frailty. There should also be a clear communication with the patient and patient's family about the risks and anticipated benefits of either an intense or nonintense treatment approach.

Image-based ex-vivo drug screening for patients with aggressive haematological malignancies: interim results from a single-arm, open-label, pilot study

Background

Patients with refractory or relapsed haematological malignancies have few treatment options and short survival times. Identification of effective therapies with genomic-based precision medicine is hampered by intratumour heterogeneity and incomplete understanding of the contribution of various mutations within specific cancer phenotypes. Ex-vivo drug-response profiling in patient biopsies might aid effective treatment identification; however, proof of its clinical utility is limited.

Methods

We investigated the feasibility and clinical impact of multiparametric, single-cell, drug-response profiling in patient biopsies by immunofluorescence, automated microscopy, and image analysis, an approach we call pharmacoscopy. First, the ability of pharmacoscopy to separate responders from non-responders was evaluated retrospectively for a cohort of 20 newly diagnosed and previously untreated patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. Next, 48 patients with aggressive haematological malignancies were prospectively evaluated for pharmacoscopy-guided treatment, of whom 17 could receive the treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival in pharmacoscopy-treated patients, as compared with their own progression-free survival for the most recent regimen on which they had progressive disease. This trial is ongoing and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03096821.

Findings

Pharmacoscopy retrospectively predicted the clinical response of 20 acute myeloid leukaemia patients to initial therapy with 88·1% accuracy. In this interim analysis, 15 (88%) of 17 patients receiving pharmacoscopy-guided treatment had an overall response compared with four (24%) of 17 patients with their most recent regimen (odds ratio 24·38 [95% CI 3·99–125·4], p=0·0013). 12 (71%) of 17 patients had a progression-free survival ratio of 1·3 or higher, and median progression-free survival increased by four times, from 5·7 (95% CI 4·1–12·1) weeks to 22·6 (7·4–34·0) weeks (hazard ratio 3·14 [95% CI 1·37–7·22], p=0·0075).

Interpretation

Routine clinical integration of pharmacoscopy for treatment selection is technically feasible, and led to improved treatment of patients with aggressive refractory haematological malignancies in an initial patient cohort, warranting further investigation.

Funding

Austrian Academy of Sciences; European Research Council; Austrian Science Fund; Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy; National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development; Anniversary Fund of the Austrian National Bank; MPN Research Foundation; European Molecular Biology Organization; and Swiss National Science Foundation.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Updates and Nuances

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous, clonal stem cell disorder of the blood and marrow typically diagnosed based on the presence of persistent cytopenia(s), dysplastic cells, and genetic markers. Common issues that arise in the clinical management include difficulty confirming MDS diagnosis, lack of a standard approach with novel agents in MDS, and few prospective long-term, randomized controlled MDS clinical studies to guide allogeneic blood and marrow transplant. With the recent genetic characterization of MDS, certain aspects of these issues will be better addressed by integrating genetic data into clinical study design and clinical practice.

Autologous stem cell transplantation for adult acute myelocytic leukemia in first remission-Better outcomes after busulfan and melphalan compared with busulfan and cyclophosphamide: A retrospective study from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

BACKGROUND

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for adult acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a valid therapeutic option for patients with good-risk and intermediate-risk disease. The authors used the registry of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation to compare combined busulfan and melphalan (BUMEL) with combined busulfan and cyclophosphamide (BUCY) before transplantation.

METHODS

From 2005 to 2013, 853 patients with available cytogenetics underwent ASCT in first remission, including 257 after receiving BUMEL and 596 after receiving BUCY. The proportion of patients with good-risk AML was lower in those who received BUMEL (14% vs 20%; P = .02). More patients who received BUMEL underwent autograft in molecular remission (89% vs 78%; P = .02). Three years after transplantation, the relapse incidence (RI) was 48.7%, the leukemia-free survival (LFS) rate was 47.7%, the overall survival (OS) rate was 66.2%, and the nonrelapse mortality (NRM) rate was 3.6%.

RESULTS

Patients who underwent an autograft after receiving BUMEL fared better than those who underwent an autograft after receiving BUCY with a lower RI (39.5% vs 52.2%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.87; P = .003) a better LFS (55.4% vs 44.6%; HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53-0.89; P = .005), and a better OS (73.8% vs 63%; HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47-0.82; P = .0007). There was no difference in the NRM rate (BUMEL vs BUCY, 4.5% vs 3.2%, respectively). Among 74 patients in the BUMEL group and 187 in the BUCY group who underwent autograft in molecular remission, the RI was 30% versus 51%, respectively (univariate analysis; P = .01), and the LFS rate was 66% versus 47%, respectively (univariate analysis; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AML in first complete remission who undergo ASCT, the BUMEL combination is a better preparative regimen. Cancer 2017;123:824-31. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Inhibition of FLT3 in AML: a focus on sorafenib

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is one of the most commonly mutated genes in AML. FLT3 is mutated in ~30% of patients with AML, either by internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) of the juxta-membrane domain or by a point mutation, usually involving the tyrosine kinase domain. Several FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors are being evaluated in multiple studies aiming at improving outcomes. The most widely used is sorafenib, a potent multikinase inhibitor approved for hepatocellular carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. Sorafenib monotherapy or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, has been evaluated in various settings in AML, including front-line, relapsed or refractory disease including post-allograft failures and, more recently, as post-transplant maintenance therapy. Encouraging data have emerged with several other agents like lestaurtinib, midostaurin, crenolanib, gilteritinib and quizartinib. Although transient responses to FLT3 inhibitors are often observed in case of disease relapse, the most promising approach is the use of FLT3 inhibitors either in combination with induction chemotherapy or as consolidation/maintenance therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. In this review, we summarize the clinical data on sorafenib and other FLT3 inhibitors in AML.

Selecting initial treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia in older adults

More than half of the patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are older than 60years. The treatment outcomes in this group remain poor with a median overall survival of <1year. Selecting initial treatment for these patients involves an assessment of 'fitness' for induction chemotherapy. This is done based on patient and disease-related characteristics which help to estimate treatment-related mortality and chance of complete remission with induction chemotherapy. If the risk of treatment-related mortality is high and/or the likelihood of a patient achieving a complete remission is low, lower-intensity treatment (low-dose cytarabine, decitabine and azacitidine) should be discussed. As outcomes in both groups of patients remain poor, enrolment into clinical trials of novel agents with varying mechanisms of action should be considered for all older adults with AML. Novel agents in Phase III development include CPX-351, guadecitabine (SGI-110), quizartinib, crenolanib, sapacitabine, vosaroxin and volasertib.

A three-gene expression-based risk score can refine the European LeukemiaNet AML classification

Background

Risk stratification based on cytogenetics of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains imprecise. The introduction of novel genetic and epigenetic markers has helped to close this gap and increased the specificity of risk stratification, although most studies have been conducted in specific AML subpopulations. In order to overcome this limitation, we used a genome-wide approach in multiple AML populations to develop a robust prediction model for AML survival.

Methods

We conducted a genome-wide expression analysis of two data sets from AML patients enrolled into the AMLCG-1999 trial and from the Tumor Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to develop a prognostic score to refine current risk classification and performed a validation on two data sets of the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) and an independent AMLCG cohort.

Results

In our training set, using a stringent multi-step approach, we identified a small three-gene prognostic scoring system, named Tri-AML score (TriAS) which highly correlated with overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed TriAS to be an independent prognostic factor in all tested training and additional validation sets, even including age, current cytogenetic-based risk stratification, and three other recently developed expression-based scoring models for AML.

Conclusions

The Tri-AML score allows robust and clinically practical risk stratification for the outcome of AML patients. TriAS substantially refined current ELN risk stratification assigning 44.5 % of the patients into a different risk category.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13045-016-0308-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association between DCK 35708 T>C variation and clinical outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia in South Chinese patients

AIM

DCK is a rate-limiting enzyme in cytarabine activation. rs4643786 and rs67437265 (P122S) variants are reported to affect DCK activity.

PATIENTS & METHODS

A total of 282 newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients were treated with cytarabine combined chemotherapy and genotyped for rs4643786 and rs67437265. Prognosis data were obtained through regular follow-up. DCK mRNA expression was detected in pretreatment blood or bone marrow mononuclear cells.

RESULTS

rs4643786 showed strong linkage disequilibrium with rs67437265. rs4643786 CT heterozygotes showed significantly higher complete remission rate (p = 0.028), superior overall survival (p = 0.006) and relapse-free survival (p = 0.020) than wild-type TT homozygotes. rs4643786 polymorphism was an independent predictor for AML prognosis.

CONCLUSION

DCK rs4643786 may serve as an independent predictor of drug response and AML outcome.

The outcome and prognostic factors of 248 elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with standard-dose or low-intensity induction therapy

The prognosis of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is poor, and the recommendation of standard-dose or low-intensity induction regimen for these patients remains controversial. We retrospectively analyzed treatment outcome and prognostic factors of elderly AML patients who had received either standard-dose or low-intensity induction regimens.Two hundred forty-eight elderly AML patients with good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS ≤ 2) received one of three regimens for induction in this study: standard-dose cytarabine plus idarubicin (IA; n = 144) or daunorubicin (DA; n = 42); low-intensity cytarabine, aclarubicin, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (CAG; n = 62).After first induction treatment cycle, the overall complete remission (CR) rate was 42.7%. Patients in IA group had a higher CR rate than in DA or CAG group (49.3%, 35.7%, and 32.3%, respectively; P = 0.046). The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 42.2%, 18.9%, and 13.5% for these 248 patients, with median survival of 9.2 months. Long-term survival of IA group was better than DA or CAG group. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates of IA group were 45.9%, 23.5%, and 19.4%, respectively, as compared to 39.8%, 8.3%, and estimated 2.4% in DA group, and 34.9%, 15.9%, and 6.3% in CAG group, respectively. Early induction mortality and 2-year relapse rates showed no difference among 3 groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis identified lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) more than two times of upper normal limit at diagnosis and nonremission after first induction cycle as adverse prognostic factors for OS. A simple and valid scoring model was constructed for risk stratification and prediction of long-term survival of elderly AML patients.Standard-dose IA regimen could improve the prognosis of elderly AML patients with good performance status compared with standard-dose DA or low-intensity CAG regimen. All prognostic factors and risk assessment should be considered to ensure that each patient receives the suitable individualized treatment.