Hirohisa Nakamae

Dasatinib versus Imatinib in Newly Diagnosed Chronic-Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

BACKGROUND Treatment with dasatinib, a highly potent BCR-ABL kinase inhibitor, has resulted in high rates of complete cytogenetic response and progression-free survival among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase, after failure of imatinib treatment. We assessed the efficacy and safety of dasatinib, as compared with imatinib, for the first-line treatment of chronic-phase CML. METHODS In a multinational study, 519 patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase CML were randomly assigned to receive dasatinib at a dose of 100 mg once daily (259 patients) or imatinib at a dose of 400 mg once daily (260 patients). The primary end point was complete cytogenetic response by 12 months, confirmed on two consecutive assessments at least 28 days apart. Secondary end points, including major molecular response, were tested at a significance level of 0.0001 to adjust for multiple comparisons. RESULTS After a minimum follow-up of 12 months, the rate of confirmed complete cytogenetic response was higher with dasatinib than with imatinib (77% vs. 66%, P=0.007), as was the rate of complete cytogenetic response observed on at least one assessment (83% vs. 72%, P=0.001). The rate of major molecular response was higher with dasatinib than with imatinib (46% vs. 28%, P<0.0001), and responses were achieved in a shorter time with dasatinib (P<0.0001). Progression to the accelerated or blastic phase of CML occurred in 5 patients who were receiving dasatinib (1.9%) and in 9 patients who were receiving imatinib (3.5%). The safety profiles of the two treatments were similar. CONCLUSIONS Dasatinib, administered once daily, as compared with imatinib, administered once daily, induced significantly higher and faster rates of complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response. Since achieving complete cytogenetic response within 12 months has been associated with better long-term, progression-free survival, dasatinib may improve the long-term outcomes among patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase CML. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00481247.)

Nilotinib versus imatinib for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase, Philadelphia chromosome-positive, chronic myeloid leukaemia: 24-month minimum follow-up of the phase 3 randomised ENESTnd trial

BACKGROUND Nilotinib has shown greater efficacy than imatinib in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in chronic phase after a minimum follow-up of 12 months. We present data from the Evaluating Nilotinib Efficacy and Safety in clinical Trials-newly diagnosed patients (ENESTnd) study after a minimum follow-up of 24 months. METHODS ENESTnd was a phase 3, multicentre, open-label, randomised study. Adult patients were eligible if they had been diagnosed with chronic phase, Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML within the previous 6 months. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive nilotinib 300 mg twice a day, nilotinib 400 mg twice a day, or imatinib 400 mg once a day, all administered orally, by use of a computer-generated randomisation schedule, using permuted blocks, and stratified according to Sokal score. Efficacy results are reported for the intention-to-treat population. The primary endpoint was major molecular response at 12 months, defined as BCR-ABL transcript levels on the International Scale (BCR-ABL(IS)) of 0·1% or less by real-time quantitative PCR in peripheral blood. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00471497. FINDINGS 282 patients were randomly assigned to receive nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, 281 to receive nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and 283 to receive imatinib. By 24 months, significantly more patients had a major molecular response with nilotinib than with imatinib (201 [71%] with nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, 187 [67%] with nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and 124 [44%] with imatinib; p<0·0001 for both comparisons). Significantly more patients in the nilotinib groups achieved a complete molecular response (defined as a reduction of BCR-ABL(IS) levels to ≤0·0032%) at any time than did those in the imatinib group (74 [26%] with nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, 59 [21%] with nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and 29 [10%] with imatinib; p<0·0001 for nilotinib 300 mg twice daily vs imatinib, p=0·0004 for nilotinib 400 mg twice daily vs imatinib). There were fewer progressions to accelerated or blast phase on treatment, including clonal evolution, in the nilotinib groups than in the imatinib group (two with nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, five with nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and 17 with imatinib; p=0·0003 for nilotinib 300 mg twice daily vs imatinib, p=0·0089 for nilotinib 400 mg twice daily vs imatinib). At 24 months, survival was comparable in all treatment groups, but fewer CML-related deaths had occurred in both the nilotinib groups than in the imatinib group (five with nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, three with nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and ten with imatinib). Overall, the only grade 3 or 4 non-haematological adverse events that occurred in at least 2·5% of patients were headache (eight [3%] with nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, four [1%] with nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and two [<1%] with imatinib) and rash (two [<1%], seven [3%], and five [2%], respectively). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was more common with imatinib than with either dose of nilotinib (33 [12%] with nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, 30 [11%] with nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and 59 [21%] with imatinib). Serious adverse events were reported in eight additional patients in the second year of the study (four with nilotinib 300 mg twice daily, three with nilotinib 400 mg twice daily, and one with imatinib). INTERPRETATION Nilotinib continues to show better efficacy than imatinib for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed CML in chronic phase. These results support nilotinib as a first-line treatment option for patients with newly diagnosed disease. FUNDING Novartis.

Long-term benefits and risks of frontline nilotinib vs imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase: 5-year update of the randomized ENESTnd trial

In the phase 3 Evaluating Nilotinib Efficacy and Safety in Clinical Trials–Newly Diagnosed Patients (ENESTnd) study, nilotinib resulted in earlier and higher response rates and a lower risk of progression to accelerated phase/blast crisis (AP/BC) than imatinib in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). Here, patients’ long-term outcomes in ENESTnd are evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 5 years. By 5 years, more than half of all patients in each nilotinib arm (300 mg twice daily, 54%; 400 mg twice daily, 52%) achieved a molecular response 4.5 (MR4.5; BCR-ABL⩽0.0032% on the International Scale) compared with 31% of patients in the imatinib arm. A benefit of nilotinib was observed across all Sokal risk groups. Overall, safety results remained consistent with those from previous reports. Numerically more cardiovascular events (CVEs) occurred in patients receiving nilotinib vs imatinib, and elevations in blood cholesterol and glucose levels were also more frequent with nilotinib. In contrast to the high mortality rate associated with CML progression, few deaths in any arm were associated with CVEs, infections or pulmonary diseases. These long-term results support the positive benefit-risk profile of frontline nilotinib 300 mg twice daily in patients with CML-CP.

Discontinuation of dasatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia who have maintained deep molecular response for longer than 1 year (DADI trial): a multicentre phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND First-line imatinib treatment can be successfully discontinued in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia after deep molecular response has been sustained for at least 2 years. We investigated the safety and efficacy of discontinuing second-line or subsequent dasatinib after at least 1 year of deep molecular response. METHODS The Dasatinib Discontinuation trial was a prospective multicentre trial done in Japan. Eligible patients taking dasatinib and with confirmed stable deep molecular response were enrolled between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012. All patients received dasatinib consolidation therapy for at least 1 year. In those with sustained deep molecular response, dasatinib was discontinued. Patients were followed up every month in year 1 (clinical cutoff), every 3 months in year 2, and every 6 months in year 3 for deep molecular response and immunological profiles. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with treatment-free remission at 6 months after discontinuation. Molecular relapse was defined as loss of deep molecular response at any assessment. This study is registered, number UMIN000005130. FINDINGS 88 patients were enrolled in the consolidation phase, 24 were excluded from the discontinuation phase due to fluctuations in BCR-ABL1 transcript levels. One patient was excluded because of positive expression of major and minor BCR-ABL1 transcripts in chronic myeloid leukaemia cells and the detection of minor BCR-ABL1 transcripts during consolidation. Thus, 63 patients discontinued dasatinib treatment. The 25 patients who were excluded from discontinuation continued to receive dasatinib and none showed disease progression. Median follow-up was 20.0 months (IQR 16.5-24.0). Of the 63 patients who discontinued and were not excluded, 30 patients maintained deep molecular response while 33 patients had molecular relapses, all within the first 7 months after discontinuation. The estimated overall treatment-free remission was 49% (95% CI 36-61) at 6 months. No severe treatment-related toxic effects were seen. Treatment was restarted in the 33 patients with relapse; rapid molecular responses were seen in all 33 patients, of whom 29 (88%) regained deep molecular response within 3 months, as did the remaining four by 6 months. INTERPRETATION Dasatinib discontinuation after sustained deep molecular response for more than 1 year is feasible. FUNDING Epidemiological and Clinical Research Information Network (ECRIN).

Prognostic factors and outcomes of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia after first relapse

Background Patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are treated with conventional chemotherapy still have a substantial risk of relapse; the prognostic factors and optimal treatments after relapse have not been fully established. We, therefore, retrospectively analyzed data from patients with acute myeloid leukemia who had achieved first complete remission to assess their prognosis after first relapse. Design and Methods Clinical data were collected from 70 institutions across the country on adult patients who were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and who had achieved a first complete remission after one or two courses of induction chemotherapy. Results Among the 1,535 patients who were treated with chemotherapy alone, 1,015 relapsed. Half of them subsequently achieved a second complete remission. The overall survival was 30% at 3 years after relapse. Multivariate analysis showed that achievement of second complete remission, salvage allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, and a relapse-free interval of 1 year or longer were independent prognostic factors. The outcome after allogeneic transplantation in second complete remission was comparable to that after transplantation in first complete remission. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia and cytogenetic risk factors other than inv(16) or t(8;21) had a significantly worse outcome when they did not undergo salvage transplantation even when they achieved second complete remission. Conclusions We found that both the achievement of second complete remission and the application of salvage transplantation were crucial for improving the prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse. Our results indicate that the optimal treatment strategy after first relapse may differ according to the cytogenetic risk.

Impact of relative dose intensity (RDI) in CHOP combined with rituximab (R-CHOP) on survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BackgroundRecently, maintaining higher relative dose intensity (RDI) of chemotherapeutic drugs has become a widespread practice in an attempt to achieve better outcomes in the treatment of aggressive lymphoma. The addition of rituximab to chemotherapy regimens has significantly improved outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL). However, it is unknown if higher RDI in chemotherapy when combined with rituximab leads to a better outcome in aggressive B-cell lymphoma.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the impact of the RDI of initial chemotherapy (consisting of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone with rituximab (R-CHOP) on outcome in 100 newly diagnosed DLBL patients.ResultsA multivariate Cox regression model showed that RDI trended towards a significant association with mortality [hazard ratio per 0.1 of RDI = 0.8; 95% confidence interval 0.6–1.0; P = 0.08]. Additionally, on multivariate logistic analysis, advanced age was a significant factor for reduced RDI.ConclusionOur data suggest that in DLBL patients, mortality was affected by RDI of R-CHOP as the initial treatment, and the retention of a high RDI could therefore be crucial.

QT dispersion as a predictor of acute heart failure after high-dose cyclophosphamide.

No useful predictor of risk of acute heart failure in peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) regimens, Including high-dose cyclophosphamide, has previously been available. Corrected QT dispersion can predict acute heart failure after high-dose cyclophosphamide chemotherapy used in PBSCT.

Different immunoprofiles in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with imatinib, nilotinib or dasatinib

Abstract Immunomodulation induced by dasatinib is reportedly related to better prognosis in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. The immunoprofiles of 63 patients in the chronic phase of CML were evaluated during treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib, n = 36; nilotinib, n = 9; dasatinib, n = 18). The numbers of CD56 + CD57 + and CD3 + CD57 + cells increased significantly in the dasatinib group. The numbers of regulatory T-cells were comparable among the three groups. Dasatinib markedly enhanced natural killer (NK)-cell reactivity. Only one patient treated with dasatinib showed a slight cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. In contrast, nilotinib suppressed NK-cell reactivity. Plasma levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interferon-γ inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were significantly elevated in all three groups, and plasma levels of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were significantly elevated in the imatinib and dasatinib groups. Our results suggest the presence of a mechanism for dasatinib-associated immunomodulatory effects that is distinct from CMV reactivation and a decreased number of regulatory T-cells.

Cytopenias after day 28 in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: impact of recipient/donor factors, transplant conditions and myelotoxic drugs

Background Secondary cytopenias are serious complications following hematopoietic cell transplantation. Etiologies include myelotoxic agents, viral infections, and possibly transplant-related factors such as the intensity of the conditioning regimen and the source of stem cells. Design and Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from 2162 hematopoietic cell transplant recipients to examine the effect of these factors on overall cytopenias occurring after 28 days in hematopoietic cell transplantation. Results Advanced age of the patient, recipient cytomegalovirus seropositivity, unrelated donor status, human leukocyte antigen mismatch and lower doses of transplanted CD34+ cells (≤ 6.4×106/kg) significantly increased the risk of cytopenias after day 28. Non-myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation had protective effects on anemia and thrombocytopenia after day 28 (adjusted odds ratio 0.76, probability value of 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio 0.31, probability value of <0.0001, respectively) but not on overall or ganciclovir-related neutropenia. This lack of protection appeared to be due to the use of mycophenolate mofetil in the majority of recipients of non-myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplants. Peripheral blood stem cells did not confer protection from cytopenias when compared to bone marrow. Conclusions Elderly patients appear to be more prone to cumulative toxicities of post-transplant drug regimens, but non-myeloablative conditioning, optimized human leukocyte antigen matching, and higher doses of CD34+ cell infusions may reduce the risk of cytopenia after day 28.

Donor Lymphocyte Infusion for the Treatment of Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Analysis by the Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Working Group of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Because the efficacy of donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains uncertain, especially in the Asian population, a nationwide registry study was retrospectively performed by the Adult AML Working Group of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation to identify the factors affecting the patient survival after DLI. Among 143 adult AML patients who received DLI for the treatment of first hematological relapse after HSCT, the overall survival rates at 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years were 32% ± 4%, 17% ± 3%, and 7% ± 3%, respectively. Complete remission (CR) at the time of DLI, which was obtained in 8% of the patients, was the strongest predictive factor for survival after DLI. Therefore, long-term survival after DLI was achieved almost exclusively in patients who successfully achieved a CR before DLI, indicating the limited efficacy of DLI in a minority of patients.